Jasmine Thorson SUNY Broome John Locke Jasmine Thorson SUNY Broome

Biography John Locke was born on August 29, 1632, in the village of Wrington, located in the county of Somerset, England. Locke was born to Puritan parents, Agnes Keene and John Lock, the elder. Agnes died when Locke was just an infant. Him and his only brother, Thomas, were raised by their father who was an attorney in the small village of Pensford in Somerset, England (John Locke Biography). Locke never married nor had children. However, he was very close with Lady Damaris Cudworth Masham that lasted till his death on October 28th, 1704 at the age of 72 (The Famous People, 2017). Locke is recognized as the founder of empiricism (theory that all knowledge is derived from sense- experience), which developed in the 17th and 18th centuries and greatly contributed to the Age of Enlightenment.

Biography continued… Interesting Facts: “In 1667 Locke became the personal physician of Anthony Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and performed an operation on him for a liver infection that could have ended his life” (John Locke Facts). “The Declaration of Independence quotes one passage from the Second Treatise” ( John Locke Facts). “Locke’s treatises were printed in America in 1773 in Boston and his ideas on liberty and social contract were influential in the American Revolution and influenced the writings of Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison” (John Locke Facts). “None of Locke’s major writings were published until he was nearly sixty” (John Locke Biography).

area of study As a child, Locke was tutored at home and grew up to be an excellent student. At the age of 14, he attended the Westminster School in London where he stayed for six years. He then was accepted to Christ Church, Oxford. In 1656 he earned his bachelor’s degree and in 1652 he earned his master’s degree. Then, in 1674 he obtained a bachelor of medicine (Doug, 2017). John Locke was an English philosopher, physician, and political theorist. “His writings contributed greatly to the development of the fields of political philosophy, epistemology, and education” (The Famous People, 2017). John Locke is best known for his empirical theory of knowledge and his political theory of government. “In 1690 he brought out his major works: Two Treatises and the Essay Concerning Human Understanding.” It was with these two works that his theories arose.

Description of theories John Locke’s Theory of Knowledge: “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” (1689) John Locke based his theory of knowledge on the scientific method and the study of the brain and how we learn. He argues that we are born with a “blank slate,” also known as “tabula rasa.” This concept states that we are born neutral, we are neither good nor bad. We become who we are through experiencing the world through the five senses (Gordon and Browne, 2017). “He was one of the first European educators to discuss the idea of individual differences gleaned from observing one child rather than simply teaching a group” (Gordon and Browne, 2017). Why is this theory important? Every child is different, and therefore learns in a different way. Children are not born evil but are born neutral and have a clean slate. Locke's best idea is that the teacher must work the senses to help children reach understanding. This is why I believe learning through play is the best way for a child to learn and grow. Interacting with their environment helps the child grow and develop emotionally, physically, and socially.

Description of theories continued.. John Locke’s Political Theory: “Two Treatises of Government” (1690) According to Locke, men are both free and equal by nature and should not be subjected to a monarch. He says that people have rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property. Government exists because of the people and therefore should promote the public good. If a government fails to promote the public good, then people have the right to go against the government and replace it with a new government. “Thus, when a king loses the consent of the governed, a society may remove him- an approach quoted verbatim in Thomas Jefferson’s 1776 Declaration of Independence” (History.com Staff, 2009). In other words, people have the right to start a revolution if they are not happy with their government.

Description of theories continued… Why is this important? Locke’s political theory of government is important because it influenced the way the United States is governed- by separation of church and state. How has John Locke’s work been used by others? “John Locke is counted amongst the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers” (The Famous People, 2017). His writing inspired and influenced many philosophers that followed in his footsteps, including, Voltaire and Rousseau. Voltaire and Rousseau took on Locke’s enlightenment ideas and the concept of empiricism-questioning how the world works through the five senses and using the scientific method to use reason, logic, and rational thinking to process the world around them.

Implications for practice After researching the life and theories of the philosopher, John Lock, I now have a better understanding of the history of education itself. His idea that a child is born with a “blank slate” is an idea I had never thought about, but I agree with Locke’s theory. A child is born neither good nor evil and what shapes a child is his/her experiences with the world around them through the five senses. As a teacher, I want to be as helpful as I can in guiding children towards the good and not the evil. Part of the experience I believe Locke is talking about is the people children interact with. I want to set a good example for children and be a role model for them. In doing this, I will always have a positive attitude, teach them to the best of my abilities, and never give up on them.

references (n.d.). John Locke Biography - school, mother, book, information, born, college. Retrieved from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ki-Lo/Locke-John.html John Locke. (2017). The Famous People website. Retrieved from //www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-locke-134.php. Stewart, Doug. (2017). John Locke. Retrieved from https://www.famousscientists.org/john-locke/ (n.d.). John Locke Facts. Retrieved from http://www.softschools.com/facts/scientists/john locke facts/1623// Gordon, A. M., & Browne, K. W. (2017). History of Early Childhood Education. In Beginnings & Beyond: Foundations in Early Childhood Education (10th ed., p. 12). Wadsworth Publishing. History.com Staff. (2009). John Locke - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/john- locke