The Routledge Guidebook to Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding

John Locke is widely acknowledged as the most important figure in the history of English philosophy and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding is his greatest intellectual work, emphasising the importance of experience for the formation of knowledge. The Routledge Guidebook to Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding introduces the major themes of Locke’s great book and serves as a companion to this key work, examining:

• The context of Locke’s work and the background to his writing
• Each part of the text in relation to its goals, meaning and impact
• The reception of the book when it was first seen by the world
• The relevance of Locke’s work to philosophy today, its legacy and influence

With further reading suggested throughout, this text follows Locke’s original work closely, making it essential reading for all students of philosophy, and all those wishing to get to grips with this classic work.

Jonathan Lowe (1950-2014) was Professor of Philosophy at Durham University where he specialised in metaphysics, the philosophy of mind and early modern philosophy. He published widely on the subject of Locke’s philosophy, and his other books include Locke (Routledge, 2005).