Locke: A Biography

Locke: A Biography

This is the first comprehensive biography of John Locke to be published in nearly a half century. Setting Locke's life within exciting historical and intellectual contexts, which included the English Civil War, religious persecution, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Roger Woolhouse interweaves an account of Locke's life with a summary and development of his ideas in theory of knowledge, philosophy of science, medicine, economics, philosophy of religion, and political philosophy.

The first comprehensive biography of John Locke to be published in nearly a half century.

This is the first comprehensive biography in over fifty years of John Locke - 'a man of versatile mind, fitted for whatever you shall undertake', as one of his many friends aptly described him. Against an exciting background of Civil War, religious intolerance, political struggles and plots, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, it interweaves the events of Locke's rather varied life with detailed expositions of his developing ideas in medicine, epistemology, religion, and economics. It describes a private life of close friendships and warm companionship, and an increasingly visible public life - Oxford tutor, associate of Shaftesbury, dutiful civil servant. Locke's abiding desire was for quiet residence in his Oxford college engaged in the study and practice of medicine and natural philosophy, yet after years in political exile, he finally became an over-worked but influential public servant. He is seen now as one of the most significant early modern philosophers.

Review quote:
'Now we can be grateful not only for the life and works of this profoundly influential man but for Woolhouse's gift of him to us anew.' Library Journal

'Woolhouse's portrait supersedes the 1957 definitive biography by mining a multivolume collection of Locke's correspondence published since then, providing this opportunity for active philosophy collections to freshen their Locke section.' Booklist

'Woolhouse weaves compelling critical readings of Locke's works into events in Locke's life that prompted them, also showing the extent to which many of Locke's key ideas emerged early in his life. Woolhouse combines engaging writing with lucid insights into Locke's times to create not only an elegant critical biography but also a first-rate social history.' Library Journal

Table of contents:
Introduction: a man of versatile mind; 1. Upbringing and education (1632(?)1;1658); 2. College offices and medical studies (1659(?)1;1667); 3. Exeter House, London (1666(?)1;1675); 4. France (November 1675(?)1;May 1679); 5. Thanet House and London (May 1679(?)1;September 1683); 6. Holland and the United Provinces (1683(?)1;1688); 7. London (February 1689(?)1;December 1690); 8. Oates (January 1691(?)1;December 1695); 9. 'A gentleman's duty' (December 1695(?)1;March 1700); 10. 'Laying down his place' (March 1700(?)1;October 1704).

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Roger Woolhouse is emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of York. He has written on aspects of the history of philosophy and philosophy of science, and is author of many journal articles and books, including Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz and, with R. Francks, Leibniz's New System and Leibniz: Philosophical Texts.

Inhaltsangabe

1. Upbringing and education (1632-1658); 2. College offices and medical studies (1659-1667); 3. Exeter House, London (1666-1675); 4. France (November 1675-May 1679); 5. Thanet House and London (May 1679-September 1683); 6. Holland and the United Provinces (1683-1688); 7. London (February 1689-December 1690); 8. Oates (January 1691-December 1695); 9.'A gentleman's duty'(December 1695-March 1700); 10.'Laying down his place'(March 1700-October 1704).