Description
Book Synopsis* Gives a thorough overview of all aspects of Locke s thought * Draws on notebooks and archival materials to add a wealth of empirical detail * Expertly contextualises Locke in relation to philosophical history * Sheds new light on Locke s understanding of the Enlightenment .
Trade Review"A really superb introduction to Locke's work. It is highly recommended both for students and scholars of early modern philosophy, not least because of the refreshingly coherent and unified picture it presents of the thought one of England’s 'premier league' philosophers."
Metascience "This book is an excellent commentary on the major areas of Locke’s philosophy. It is informed with a deep respect for the complexity of Locke’s thought and a wide reading in the sophisticated contemporary literature, both on Locke and more widely."
John Rogers, Keele University "A superb introduction to the philosophy of John Locke. It is balanced and insightful in its interpretations and displays a keen grasp of the whole sweep of Locke’s philosophy. While there is much here for the scholar, this book is just the right length and pitch for an undergraduate student text."
Peter Anstey, University of Otago, New Zealand "A. J. Pyle has written an excellent book on the philosophy of John Locke. It is thorough, scholarly, historically informed, lucidly written, provocative and engaging. It leads the reader through thorny and conceptually difficult material with an effortless fluidity that neither sacrifices precision nor loses the reader in minutiae. This volume should be of interest to undergraduates, graduate students and non-specialists who are interested in Locke and his contribution to Western philosophy. I highly recommend it."
Jan-Erik Jones, Southern Virginia UniversityTable of ContentsAbbreviations vi
Introduction: The Unity of Locke's Thought 1
1 Life, Contexts and Concerns 8
2 The Theory of Ideas 31
3 Human Knowledge and Its Limits 54
4 The Material World 77
5 God and Religion 101
6 The Soul and the Afterlife 125
7 The Two Treatises of Government 147
8 Problems of Church and State 173
Notes 196
Select Bibliography 208
Index 214
