John Locke and Empiricism

John Locke (1632-1704) believed in empiricism. Empiricism is the idea that all knowledge passes through the senses. Empiricism comes from the Greek word empeiria meaning experience. Locke who is an empiricist would agree with the following passage from Soccio on page 291, “Empiricists believe that all ideas can be traced back to sense data. Abstractions and complex beliefs are said to be combinations and mental alterations of original impressions and perceptions, as when, for example, we imagine a man with a horse’s head.” So Locke would agree that all knowledge is through the senses.

Locke believed in the idea of primary and secondary qualities. Primary qualities being the qualities that makes up the object. These qualities include: solidity, number, and figure. On the flip side of the coin, the secondary qualities depend on the individual. Secondary qualities include: color, taste, smell and sound. Locke would disagree with the statement that color red is in the object itself. He would say that since color is a secondary quality, the color red is not in the object it is in the person viewing the object.

Locke stated that if people were put on a deserted island the two things that the people on the island would need to do is to preserve the peace and to preserve the species. He also says that there would be the assumption of a social contract. These expectations lead to the idea that the government protects the social contract and a civil government follows life, liberty, and property. He says that democracy is the best form of government and must follow three branches of government. Legislative which take our place in government, Executive the branch that carries out the laws and judiciary that makes sure laws are fair and followed fairly.

Locke says that no matter what we should tolerate all religions. There is one exception, if a religion does not tolerate other religions that we should not tolerate that one. For example, If the was three religions (and we will pretend to be the A religion) , A, B, C and A and B was accepted by C then we would all accept C. But if B didn’t accept A or C then we would not accept B.

Locke says that there should be a separation from church and state. Therefore Locke would want a government that does not have an official religion. If there was an official religion then there would still be a minority that is not happy.