John Locke Summary

The Germans, who hitherto have had the history of education in their own hands, have uniformly attributed an important part in it to one Englishman and one only — the philosopher Locke; and their first well-known historian, F. H. Ch. Schwarz, has asserted that ‘modern pedagogy is more or less directly [a safe form of statement] the pedagogy of Locke. Die Padagogik und Didaktik der neuen Zeit ist die Lockfsche, mehr oder weniger folgerecht1’(quoted by Herbart, Pad. Schriften ii. 329 in Beyers Bibliothek). (Locke, 1895, p. xii)

This quote was found in the preface of John Locke’s book Some Thoughts Concerning Education. Locke has written much on education, particularly in his aforementioned book. This book covers topics from children’s reading, discipline and punishment, how to use the rod, all the way to the study of the romantic languages.

John Locke was a profound writer, and many theories of both philosophy and education were influenced by him. In the book An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Locke wrote much on the subject of Epicureanism – “non-innate understanding”

It is an established opinion amongst some men, that there are in the understanding certain innate principles; some primary notions. Κοιναὶ ἐννοιαι, characters, as it were, stamped upon the mind of man. (Locke, 1836, p. xii)

In this treatise, Locke attempts to explain the usefulness of experiential understanding, the discerning ability of man, the difference between opinion and knowledge, the extent of human comprehension, one’s mental capacity, and the adaptive nature of the human brain.

John Locke changed the way scholars and theologians think and teach. Locke had an ability to connect with his readers and students in a way that drew them to his way of thinking and made him the hero. Locke is known as “The Father of Epicureanism;” others have dubbed him “The Father of modern Liberalism” as well.

John Locke Critique

Locke was a fascinating scholar and a great writer as well as a thinker who articulately communicated with a very common sense style. Although Locke believed that all knowledge was based on experience without any innate understanding, much truth could be learned from him. He even promoted an acknowledgment of a divine author (generic god).

How short soever their knowledge may come of a universal or perfect comprehension of whatsoever is, it yet secures their great concernments, that they have light enough to lead them to the knowledge of their Maker, and the sight of their own duties. (Locke, 1836, p. 8)

The idea of “truth” only being what one can experience by the five senses was paramount in Locke’s teachings. While there may be some merit in knowledge gained through experience, taken to the extreme conclusion, Epicureanism is flawed Biblically in practice. Epicureanism leads to the scientific method and leaves no room for human emotions, much less room for the idea of God’s existence or the salvation of man.

While John Locke lived in the later part of the 1600s, an interesting fact about him is that former President Bill Clinton could have turned to Locke’s writings to help in his understanding of the word is.

“What is, is;” and “it is impossible for the same thing to be, and not to be,” not universally assented to. But, which is worse, this argument of universal consent, which is made use of to prove innate principles, seems to me a demonstration that there are none such; because there are none to which all mankind give a universal assent. (Locke, 1836, p. 4)

Locke believed that universal consent, when it came to innate understanding, was a fallacy. Again, while Locke could word an argument, he could not win an argument with the Word of God. Locke was a well-published author of books and articles in a day when publishing was just becoming popular, which is one reason that he is so well known and even mimicked in his teachings still today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Locke, J. (1836). An essay concerning human understanding. T. Tegg and Son.

Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two treatises of government student edition. Cambridge university

press.

Locke, J. (1895). Some thoughts concerning education. University Press.