Locke: His Philosophical Thought [Paperback]

Nicholas Jolley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198752008 | ISBN-13: 978-0198752004 | Publication Date: March 25, 1999

This book is a general introduction to the philosophy of John Locke, one of the most influential thinkers in modern times. Nicholas Jolley aims to show the fundamental unity of Locke's thought in his masterpiece, the Essay Concerning Human Understanding. In this work Locke advances a coherent theory of knowledge; as against Descartes he argues that knowledge is possible to the extent that it concerns essences which are constructions of the human mind.

Editorial Reviews

Review

is Jolley's illuminating treatment of the relationships between Locke's thought and the views of other early modern philosophers, especially Hobbes, Descartes, and Leibniz...Jolley writes extremely clearly...provides a solid basis for further study./E.J.Lowe The Locke Newsletter.

'...fascinating and insightful discussions of issues such as, among others, personal identity and the mind-body problem. ... Clearly written ... undoubtedly accessible to the philosophy undergraduate, while also containing sufficient substance to make it essential reading for all serious scholars of Locke as well.' International Philosophical Quarterly

About the Author

Nicolas Jolley is Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego. His publications include The Light of the Soul (1990), The Cambridge Companion to Leibniz (editor, 1995), and Nicolas Malebranche: Dialogues on Metaphysics and on Religion (co-edited with David Scott, 1997). He is also the editor of the forthcoming Oxford Philosophical Texts edition of Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding.

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198752008
• ISBN-13: 978-0198752004
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #544,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent survey of Locke's thought for its audience, August 13, 2000

By 

Jeremy Pierce (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Locke: His Philosophical Thought (Paperback)

Nicholas Jolley has produced a great resource for students first encountering Locke or for those who are familiar with Locke but would like to get more into the details of his philosophical views. This book is intended as an introduction to his thought and is directed at advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. It gives enough details to begin work on any of the diverse topics covered in it, with references to direct the reader elsewhere for further discussion. Unlike most books on Locke by philosophers, this one also includes his political theory and shows its relation to Locke's other views by tying together threads of his thought from one topic to the next. I thoroughly enjoyed working through it in a graduate seminar taught by the author, but I can see that it would be quite valuable just as a resource or as an accompaniment to someone's trying to approach Locke's thought in detail but without much background.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addendum to my previously submitted review, August 13, 2000

By 

Jeremy Pierce (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Locke: His Philosophical Thought (Paperback)

I neglected to mention one thing about this book. Jolley sees himself not just as a student of what Locke said but as if he is in philosophical interaction with Locke and his critics. He presents many common criticisms of Locke and responds to them. He also leaves Locke stranded in places where he really seems to have gotten himself into trouble. This book does a great job not just approaching the issues but also in trying to clarify them in the terms of contemporary philosophers and in defending Locke against the all-too-quick criticisms he often receives.