When and where was John Locke born?
John Locke was born on the 29th of August 1632 in the village of Wrington, Somerset. He grew up in a rural Tudor house in Belluton within a family of Puritan lawyers and merchants.
Common questions about John Locke
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was John Locke's most important political patron?
John Locke's most important political patron was Anthony Ashley Cooper, the future Earl of Shaftesbury. Their partnership began in 1666 when Locke served as Shaftesbury's personal physician and political confidant.
Where did John Locke live during his exile from England?
John Locke lived in the Dutch Republic from 1683 to 1688 while fleeing political persecution. He adopted the pseudonym Dr. Van Linden and resided in cities such as Amsterdam during this period.
What is John Locke's theory of the mind?
John Locke proposed the theory of the mind as a tabula rasa or blank slate at birth. He argued that all knowledge derives from experience and sense perception rather than innate ideas.
How did John Locke's views on slavery contradict his philosophy?
John Locke held contradictory views on slavery by drafting the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina and investing in the Royal Africa Company. His involvement in the Atlantic slave trade and colonial systems of servite contradicted his general advocacy for liberty and natural rights.