Locke and the Compass of Human Understanding
A Selective Commentary on the 'Essay'

Professor Yolton delves into John Locke's most important work, the Essay Concerning Human Understanding.

John W. Yolton (Author)

9780521130080, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 February 2010

250 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.4 cm, 0.32 kg

The Essay Concerning Human Understanding is John Locke's most important work, and through this selective commentary, first published in 1970, Professor Yolton concentrates our attention on the more interesting and controversial of the doctrines in it. His method of interpretation is to ask very specific questions of the text in order to test the propriety of the philosophical labels traditionally applied to Locke, an approach which he believes yields surprising results. He looks afresh at the various discussions of essence, perception, scientific method, ethics and meaning, and argues that throughout his epistemology Locke is more concerned with problems of description and analysis than with those of justification. This historical perspective is extended by the discussion of issues in the Essay, which retain an independent and philosophical interest.

Preface
Introduction
1. The nature of things themselves
2. The science of nature
3. The method to science
4. Relations in knowledge and reality
5. Knowledge of body
6. Action and agency
7. Moral concepts and moral principles
8. Property: an example of mixed-mode analysis
9. Signs and signification
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of Western philosophy [HPC]