John Locke was a philosopher, physician, and political theorist. Locke argued that people should be free to do whatever they want unless it causes harm to others. He is considered to be one of the most influential Western thinkers and has been called the “Father of Liberalism.”
Locke was born in 1632 in Somerset, England, which is an area known for its many rocky cliffs. He attended Oxford University and studied medicine, but he never completed his medical degree because his views on religion changed. In addition, he became interested in religion during this time period and began writing about religious tolerance.
Locke is best known for his work “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” which was published in 1690, where he argues that the mind is a blank slate at birth, meaning that infants don’t have any innate knowledge or understanding.
He believed that certainty comes from experience or sensation—we can be certain about something if we experience it ourselves or if others who are reliable have told us about it.
While he is known for his ideas about human nature and government, Locke also had a great deal to say about faith and miracles, both in his religious writings and in his philosophical works. His writings — especially those concerning political theory — are still influential today.
