‘Locke (A Very Short Introduction)’ by John Dunn, Oxford University Press

‘Locke: A Very Short Introduction’ by John Dunn is a short commentary on life, political thought and philosophy of John Locke.

Contents of each chapters are below.
First, in chapter 1, John Dunn introduces the life of Locke briefly with the process of his thought, the scientific situation in Europe and the political affairs in Britain. Three large movement affects thought of Locke. The first movement is he was familiar with Christianity. The second is career of the administration and finance. The third is the commitment to philosophical understanding, which made Locke to consider philosophical question of political authority and toleration, of ethics and the theory of knowledge.
In chapter 2, author comments political thought of Locke. Locke’s central conception of government is the idea of trust. Human beings can deserve each other’s trust, they help to hold together the community. Men are so aware of their need to trust one another and because they sense the aid which this concentrated power to execute the law of nature can offer to their lives.
And, in chapter 3, author summarized Locke’s philosophy of knowledge or epistemology. In the ‘Essay Concerning Human Understanding’, Locke attempted to show how men can use their minds to know what they need to know and to believe only what they ought to believe. Human beings are free, they must think and judge for themselves. Reason must be their last judge and guide in everything. Moral ideas were inventions of the human mind, not copies of nature. This contrast is the foundation in modern philosophical thinking of the presumption of a stark gap between facts about the world and values for human beings. The distinction between fact and value is both a product of Locke’s conception of human knowing and the subversion of his beliefs about human values.
Then, in ‘conclusion’, author concludes ‘for Locke the central truths about how men have good reason to live are just as independent of what at a particular time they happen consciously to desire’.

I think this book is not a introduction to John Locke and his philosophy, is a intermediate commentary on them. You must have some degree of preliminary knowledge of history, Christianity, political thought, history of philosophy and philosophy of John Locke. Comments of this book is entirely tough and unclear, and devote many pages to write background and surroundings of his philosophy. But this book helps you to develop a deep comprehension to Locke’s philosophy as second or third commentary.
The most valuable fruits I obtained by this book are I can grasp how Locke illustrated his system of epistemology, and understand Locke was a positive, optimistic, practical and religious thinker, he was not a negative, skeptical and Atheist thinker like David Hume.

Locke (Very Short Introductions)
John Dunn
Oxford University Press, Oxford, 31 July 2003
136 pages £7.99 $11.95
ISBN: 978-0192803948
Contents:
Abbreviations
List of illustrations
Acknowledgements
1. Life
2. The Politics of Trust
3. Knowledge, Belief, and Faith
Conclusion
References
Further Reading
Index

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‘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