John Locke

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John Locke was very influential during the age of the Enlightenment. His writings challenged the philosophies of thinkers of the time, including both Scots and Americans. He was the first person to identify himself through his consciousness. He began to believe that there were endless possibilities of the human mind.

John Locke was born in Wrington, England on August 29th, 1632. He grew up in a Puritan household, and he was baptized the day he was born. His family was moved to Pensford shortly after he was born, growing up in a Tudor house. Because of his father and upbringing, Locke received a very high education. He first attended Westminster School in London in 1647, whose leader had earlier led John’s father. He then attended to Christ Church in Oxford. Locke had trouble understanding the curriculum of his undergraduate study, and this had a tendency to hurt his studies. His interest strayed to modern philosophers instead of the precise material he was taught in his classes. One of his friends introduced him to the study of medicine, and he found his real passion. He obtained a bachelor's degree, then a master's degree, and finally he received his bachelor's of medicine in 1674.

His career as a physician took flight in 1666. That year he met Lord Anthony Cooper, who came to his town to have his liver infection treated. After Locke treated him, he hired Locke to be his permanent physician. He continued to study medicine with a man named Thomas Sydenham. Cooper's infection soon got worse, and so Locke sought the advice of other physicians. He convinced Cooper that he should get the cyst removed surgically, which was a risky operation at the time, but the infection was successfully removed. Cooper believed that Locke saved hi...

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... government system functioned quite properly due to the unique balance of power more so leaning towards society. His view on people’s abilities and freedoms inspired and determined others. He helped us recognize in ourselves what he says in his works and philosophies. He also helped us to learn about our human natures, behaviors, and aspirations for freedom and happiness in the world. Without Locke’s revolutionary ideas, the United States and its values would not be the same, and we would not have some of the greatest ideas of empiricism.

Works Cited

Uzgalis, William, "John Locke." Summer 2010. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.) 1 Oct 2010, 18:36

http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2010/entries/locke/.

"John Locke." 2010. Biography.com. 1 Oct 2010, 17:56

http://www.biography.com/articles/John-Locke-9384544.

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