In Locke's landmark, Two Treatises of Government put forth his revolutionary ideas concerning the natural rights of man and the social contract.

As one of the founders of the Whig party, which pushed for constitutional monarchism and stood in opposition to the dominant Tories, Shaftsbury imparted an outlook on rule and government that never left Locke. Shaftsbury's influence on Locke's professional career and his political thoughts cannot be understated. He assisted in his business and political matters, and after Shaftsbury was made chancellor, Locke became his secretary of presentations. As Shaftsbury's stature grew, so did Locke's responsibilities. The two grew close and Shaftsbury eventually persuaded Locke to move to London and become his personal physician. He graduated with a bachelor's of medicine in 1674.Įarly in his medical studies, Locke met Lord Ashley, who was to become Earl of Shaftsbury. In 1668 Locke was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. After graduating in 1656, he returned to Christ Church two years later for a Master of Arts, which led in just a few short years to Locke taking on tutorial work at the college. In 1647 he enrolled at Westminster School in London, where Locke earned the distinct honor of being named a King's Scholar, a privilege that went to only select number of boys and paved the way for Locke to attend Christ Church, Oxford in 1652.Īt Christ Church, perhaps Oxford's most prestigious school, Locke immersed himself in logic and metaphysics, as well as the classical languages. Because of his father's connections and allegiance to the English government, Locke received an outstanding education. His father was a country lawyer and military man who had served as a captain during the English civil war.īoth his parents were Puritans and as such, Locke was raised that way. Influential philosopher and physician John Locke, whose writings had a significant impact on Western philosophy, was born on August 29, 1632, in Wrington, a village in the English county of Somerset. Locke's writings helped found modern Western philosophy. He became a highly influential philosopher, writing about such topics as political philosophy, epistemology, and education. At Oxford, he studied medicine, which would play a central role in his life. John Locke went to Westminster School and then Christ Church, University of Oxford.

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