The biography of John Locke 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, Russo and other enlighteners were formed. The philosophy and biography of John Locke inspired and led the first American and French revolutionaries who proclaimed the power of the people and the equality of rights. The biography of this person is the subject of this article.
John Locke: a biography of an early life stage
The future thinker was born in the small town of Rington, near Bristol in Western England. His parents were Puritans, raising their son in an appropriate strict atmosphere of strict observance of religious rules. Thanks to the recommendation of one influential friend of his father, Locke in 1646 ends up at Westminster School, which was then the country's most prestigious secondary school. Here he was one of the strongest students. In 1652, the young man graduated from high school and entered college at Oxford University. In 1656, he received a bachelor's degree, and three years later he defended a master's degree. After graduation, a promising young man receives an offer to stay at the university department to teach the ancient Greek language and philosophy. This decision to a large extent determined the further biography of John Locke. In subsequent years, he not only teaches, but also actively studies the philosophy and political treatises of ancient ancient philosophers. At the same time, he studied medicine, but he was not able to get a doctorate in this field.
The political activity of the thinker
When the theoretician was 34 years old, an important acquaintance took place in his life - with Lord Ashley (and later Earl of Shaftesbury). Thanks to this meeting, John Locke's biography once again makes a sharp turn. Shaftesbury supported him all his future life. First, Locke was his family doctor and educator of his son, later a secretary. And in 1668, John Locke, thanks to his patron, became one of the members of the Royal Society of London and a year later became a member of its Council. Around this time, the most active period of the thinker's creative activity begins. So, in 1671, he begins to reflect on a work that will come out of his pen only after sixteen years and become his main philosophical legacy - “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, the Earl of Shaftesbury was forced to flee political persecution in Holland. John Locke goes there too. There he met with William of Orange. And having made friends with a representative of the royal family, he becomes one of the participants in the coup in England, as a result of which William 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 due to health problems, but for several months remained in the public service. In 1700, Locke made the final decision to resign from his posts at that time. The great thinker of the European Enlightenment died in October 1704.
