Locke, John, the most notable of modem English philosophers, who has exercised the great- est influence on all subsequent speculation, in both psychology and politics, and whose doctrines, un- der various modifications or exaggerations, still contribute largely to mould the opmions of the civilized world. He has in great measure deter- mined the complexion of British psychologj^ As the most strenuous antagonist of Cartesianism ; as the precursor and teacher alike of the French encyclopasdists and of the Scotch school ; as the oracle of the freethinkers, the target of Leib- nitz, and the stimulator of Hartley, Berkeley, and Hume, Locke must always attract the earnest con- sideration of the student of metaphysics. For nearly two centuries his name has been a battle- cry, and his dogmas have been fought over bj- the shadowy hosts of warring ideologues with the zeal and the fury with which the Greeks and the Tro-
LOCKE
478
LOCKE
jans contended over the body of Patroclus. His labors ill tlie department of mental ])lulosophy constitute only a part of bis claims to enduring regard. His inquiries liavc been scarcely less fruitful in political ]ilnlo.sopby and political economy. In the former he is the acant- conrier of Kousseau; in the latter science, of Adam Smith; and in each he has laid the foundations on wliich later theorists and later statesmen have been con- tent to build.
LiJ'e. — John Locke ^yas born Aug. 29, 1632, at Wring- ton, Somersetshire, and was educated first at Westminster School, and later at Christ Church College, Oxford. Here he prosecuted the prescribed studies with diUgence and success, but deviated from the beaten path by devoting himself to the discountenanced writings of Des Cartes, who had died a few years beibre. He obtained the bac- calaureate in 1G55, and the master's degree in 1G58, and then applied himself to the study of medicine, rather for the sake of knowledge and of his sickly frame than with the purpose of practicing his profession.
In 1064 Locke accompanied the embassy to the elec- tor of Brandenburg as secretary of legation, but he re- turned to Oxford within the year, and applied him- self to experimental philosophy, then rising mto favor. An accident now decided his course of life, and occa- sioned his acquaintance with lord Ashley — the celebra- ted earl of Shaftesbury — with whom he was persuaded to take up his abode the next year. By his sldll and good luck he relieved his patron of an abscess which endangered his life, and was induced to confine his med- ical practice to a small circle of the lord's friends, and to give his chief attention to political speculation and questions of state. He thus became a man of the world before he became a philosopher. In 1(508 Locke ac- companied the earl and countess of Northumberland to France. The earl proceeded towards Rome, and died on the way. Locke returned with the countess to Eng- land, and again found a home with Ashley — chancellor of the exchequer after Clarendon's fall. The future sage was employed to superintend the education of Ash- ley's heir, a feeble boy of sixteen. He was afterwards commissioned to select a wife for him, and did so satis- factorily. In due course of time he took charge of the education of the eldest son of this marriage, the author of " the Characteristics." " To such strange uses may ^ve come at last !"
Though residing with lord Ashley, Locke retained his connection with Oxford, which he frequently visited. On one of these visits, in 1670, the conversation of Dr. Thomas and other friends turned his thoughts to the difficult, still unsettled, and perhaps insoluble question of the nature and limits of human knowledge. This supplied the germ of the L'ssay on the Human Uiuler- standimj, though nearlj^ twenty years elapsed before the completion and publication of the work. In 1672, Ash- ley, the master-spirit in Charles H's " Cabal," was cre- ated earl of Sliaftesbury, and soon after he was made lord high chancellor. Locke was appointed secretary of Plantations. Next summer Shaftesbury surrendered the great seal, and became president of the Board of Trade and Plantations. Locke was named secretary of the board. It was at this time that he produced for his noble friend and the other proprietors the Constitution of the Carolinas. In another year the Commission of Trade was dissolved, Locke lost liis post, and he dreamt of making a livelihood by Ids profession. But his health was feeble, and he travelled in France, acquiring at Montpellier the intimacy of the earl of Pembroke, to whom lie afterwanls dedicated his " KssaijP
On Sliaftesbury 's restoration to office as lord presi- dent of the council, 167'.>, lie sent for Locke, but the minister was dismissed in October of the same year. In two years more he was brought to trial for treason, but the grand jurj- ignored the indictment. Shaftes- bury, however, was compelled to escape secretly to Hol- land, where he died, .luiie 21, 1683. Locke had followed him, and wrote an affectionate tribute to his memory.
The hostile testimony of bishop Fell proves that Locke had held himself aloof from the intrigues in ^\•hich Shaftesbury was involved. He did not avoid tlie malice which such an intimacy invited. He was deprived of his studentship at Christ Church, and vain- ly attempted to regain it at the Kevolution. On the accession of James II his surrender was demanded from the states' general on the charge of complicity in IMon- mouth's insurrection. He was concealed by his Dutch friends. AVilliam Penn offered to procure his pardon, but the office was nobly declined. During this exUe Locke composed his first Letter on Toleration, and pro- duced his plan of "A Commonplace Book" — if it be his — a cumbrous and inadequate device, which admits of easy improvement. Dui.'jig this period — towards the close of 1687 — he finished the Essay concerninr/ the Hu- man Umlerstandim/. The mode of its composition has left painful traces on the completed work, as was appre- hended and acknowledged by its author.