John Locke: A Study

Running head: JOHN LOCKE: A STUDY
JOHN LOCKE: A STUDY
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1JOHN LOCKE: A STUDY
Western civilization has considerably contributed the world with new ideas, thoughts,
scientific temperaments, materialism and idealism and an amalgamation of modernity. Since
the time of Isaac Newton, western civilization has undergone colossal intellectual
movements, one of which is Enlightment movement in the eighteenth century. The intended
essay speaks about one of the most prolific enlightment thinker, writer and philosopher, John
Locke and his immense contribution to the society and enlightment period in the genre of
liberalism and equality.
John Locke, who is considered to be the “father of liberalism” was an English
physician and philosopher whose outstanding contribution to empiricism, political
philosophy and epistemology is remembered till date. His remarkable contribution to
the “social contract theory” is speculated till date. According to Outram, (2013)
“Enlightment period was a period of reasonable philosophical, scientific and intellectual
movement in Europe, also termed as “century of philosophy”. Various conflicting ideologies,
from idealism to materialism, flourished and were argued during that period which affected
the intellectual pattern and society of Europe altogether.”
Born on 29th August 1632 in a Puritan family of John and Agnes Keene, Locke was
admitted to one of the most prestigious school of London, named Westminster School where
he was taught philosophy of Decartes and classical studies (Parry, 2013). However, after
completing his tenure in Westminster School, he was introduced to physical science and
medicine by his friend Richard Lower. Locke was an ardent observer, philosopher, physician
and a rationalist (Schouls, 2018).. His rational bend of mind tended him to question the
authenticity of metaphysical speculations. He stated in his works that human beings
should be aware of their limitations of knowledge before speculating metaphysical
aspects. When the observation and study of metaphysics was considered one of the
important fields of academicia in the eighteenth century Europe, John Locke’s distrust