Short biography of John Locke

John Locke's biography is important for a full understanding of the ideas and philosophy of this outstanding thinker of the Enlightenment, a teacher, an important theoretician of liberalism and empiricism. His ideas greatly influenced the evolution of epistemology, political philosophy, under their influence the views of Voltaire, Rousseau and other enlighteners were formed. John Locke's philosophy and biography inspired and led the first American and French revolutionaries to proclaim the power of the people and equality of rights. This man's life is devoted to the topic of this article.

John Locke: biography of the early life stage

The future thinker was born in the small town of Rington, near Bristol in Western England. His parents were Puritans, who brought up their son in the corresponding strict atmosphere of religious observance. Thanks to the recommendation of one influential friend of the father, Locke in 1646 finds himself in Westminster school, which was then the most prestigious secondary educational institution in the country. Here he was one of the strongest students. In 1652, the young man finishes school and goes to college at Oxford University. In 1656, he received a bachelor's degree, and three years later he defended a master's degree. After graduation, the promising young man receives a proposal to stay at the university department to teach the ancient Greek language and philosophy. This decision to a large extent predetermined the future biography of John Locke. In subsequent years he not only teaches, but also actively studies the philosophy and political treatises of ancient ancient philosophers. In parallel, he studied medicine, but he never managed to obtain a doctorate in this field.

The political activity of the thinker

When the theorist was 34 years old, in his life there is an important acquaintance - with Lord Ashley (and later Count Shaftesbury). Thanks to this meeting, the biography of John Locke makes a sharp turn again. Shaftesbury supported him for the rest of his life. At first Locke was his home doctor and educator of his son, later a secretary. And in 1668, John Locke thanks to his patron becomes a member of the Royal Society of London and a year later enters his Council. Approximately at this time, the most active period of the creative activity of the thinker begins. So, in 1671 he begins to reflect on the work that will come out of his pen only sixteen years later and will become his main philosophical heritage - "The Experience of Human Understanding". In the seventies, Locke served in government offices in various prestigious positions. However, his career has always depended on the success of his political patron. In 1683, Count Shaftesbury is forced to flee political persecution in the Netherlands. John Locke also goes there. There he meets William of Orange. And having established friendship with a representative of the royal family, becomes one of the participants in the coup d'etat in England, as a result of which Wilhelm of Orange becomes the new English king.

John Locke: briefly about the last years of life

This allowed Locke to return to his homeland in 1689. He settled in a country house because of health problems, but still remained in the civil service for several months. In 1700, Locke made the final decision to withdraw from the positions he held at the time. The great thinker of the European Enlightenment did not become in October 1704.