Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Locke on Human Understanding

by Lowe; Jonathan

• ISBN13: 9780415100915
• ISBN10: 0415100917
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1995-06-12
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Locke on Human Understanding,is a comprehensive introduction to John Locke's major work,Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Locke'sEssayremains a key work in many philosophical fields, notably in epistemology, metaphysics and the philosophies of mind and language. In addition, Locke is often referred to as the first English empiricist. Knowledge of this influential work and figure is essential to Enlightenment thought. E. J. Lowe's approach enables students to effectively study theEssayby placing Locke's life and works in their intellectual and historical context. The book provides a critical examination of the leading themes in theEssay, illuminating the main lines in Locke's thinking. Such topics include innate ideas, perception, primary and secondary qualities, personal identity, free will, action and language. Finally, E. J. Lowe examines the comtemporary work being done on this highly influential Englishphilosopher.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction: Locke's life and work	1	(14)
Locke's life and times	1	(3)
The structure of the Essay and its place in Locke's work	4	(3)
Contemporary reception of the Essay	7	(4)
The place of the Essay in the history of philosophy	11	(4)
Ideas	15	(20)
The historical background to Locke's critique of innatism	15	(4)
Locke's uses of the term `idea'	19	(3)
Locke's arguments against innate ideas	22	(5)
A modern nativist's response to Locke	27	(8)
Perception	35	(32)
Ideas and sense-perception	35	(3)
The traditional interpretation of Locke's view	38	(4)
An `adverbialist' interpretation of Locke	42	(5)
Locke's account of secondary qualities as powers	47	(6)
Berkeley's critique of the distinction between primary and secondary qualities	53	(6)
In defence of a moderate representationalism	59	(8)
Substance	67	(26)
A brief history of the notion of substance	67	(5)
Locke on individual substances and substance in general	72	(6)
Locke's distinction between `real' and `nominal' essences	78	(5)
The criticisms of Berkeley and Hume	83	(4)
The revival of substance in modern ontology	87	(6)
Identity	93	(26)
Sortal terms and criteria of identity	93	(4)
Locke on the identity of matter and organisms	97	(5)
Locke on persons and personal identity	102	(6)
Difficulties for Locke's account of personal identity	108	(6)
In defence of the substantial self	114	(5)
Action	119	(24)
Locke on volition and voluntary action	119	(5)
Some questions and answers about volitions	124	(4)
Locke on voluntariness and necessity	128	(4)
Locke on `free will'	132	(4)
Volitionism vindicated	136	(7)
Language	143	(28)
Words, thoughts and things	143	(4)
Locke's ideational theory of linguistic signification	147	(7)
Locke's theory of abstraction	154	(4)
Problems with abstract general ideas	158	(7)
A neo-Lockean view of language and thought	165	(6)
Knowledge	171	(24)
Intuition and experience	171	(4)
Reality and truth	175	(5)
Reason, probability and faith	180	(6)
The extent and limits of human knowledge	186	(9)
Bibliography	195	(4)
Index	199