Hobbes and Locke

John Locke Background

• 1690 wrote essay surrounding human understanding

• studied medicine at Oxford

• served England’s lord chancellor

• returned in 1688 after Glorious Revolution

John Locke’s book:

• humans are born without knowledge and this is filled only with experience

• knowledge is not entirely truthful as every1 experiences life uniquely

Locke’s views

• materialist so doesnt believe in supernatural

• empiricism

• spirits could never be physically proved

Locke criticisms

• Accused of hereacy

• denial of innate ideas suggest humans instead of God responsible for learning

• Hobbes emphasised experience and observation.

Hobbe’s background

• tutored Charles II

• secretary to Bacon, allowed him to engage with influential ideas

• championed deductive reasoning

‘De Corpe

Why did Bacon not really change supernatural beliefs?

• his inductive reasoning still allowed it to be reality

• whereas Hobbe’s materialism does not.