‘Locke in 90 Minutes’ by Paul Strathern, Ivan R. Dee

‘Locke in 90 Minutes’ by Paul Strathern is a simple and brief introduction to John Locke and his empiricism philosophy. The main content ‘Locke’s Life & Works’ describes history of United Kingdom in Locke’s era and Locke’s biography along with his philosophy and thought. It includes Locke’s background and adolescence, political and scientific affairs in the UK and Europe, influences to Locke by Descartes, Gassendi, Galileo, Newton, Spinoza and Leibniz, Locke’s empiricism philosophy, political philosophy and end of life.
The following is Strathern’s comment of empiricist first principle by Locke. ‘“There is nothing in the mind except what was first in the senses.” We begin with a tabula rasa (blank sheet). Human knowledge is derived from outer experience, and reflection (Locke’s word for introspection), which enables us to discover what goes on in our minds. We use reason to draw conclusions from these experiences. In this way we arrive at generalizations, laws, and the truths of methematics.’
His comment of Locke’s political philosophy is below. ‘In the original state of nature, he argues, people were free and equal. But such freedom and equality were largely theoretical. People were simply unable to get along together without infringing on one another’s rights. Locke believed that the law of nature grants us each natural rights. We have a right to life and a right to liberty, as long as this doesn’t infringe on the liberty and natural rights of others.’
The significant point and Strathern’s emphasis in this book are Locke’s empiricist philosophy influenced both ordinary empirical thinking and idea of liberalism and natural right. Empiricism and liberal thinking are linked in Locke’s understanding. Locke’s empiricism principle was free from old customs and religious mystery, and brought about his liberal political philosophy. And philosophy of John Locke is one of the origin of modernity.

This book devote many pages to historical and political description to explain background of Locke’s empiricism, and philosophical description is few. But I recommend this book to absolute beginners in Locke and British empiricism.
This book is mere simple introduction of Locke’s philosophy because his philosophy is simple, brief and essential.

Locke in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes Series)
Paul Strathern
Ivan R. Dee, Chicago, 16 November 1999
91 pages $7.95
ISBN: 978-1-56663-262-5
Contents:
Introduction
Locke’s Life and Works
Afterword
From Locke’s Writing
Chronology of Significant Philosophical Dates
Chronology of Locke’s Life
Recommended Reading
Index