Today, I am thankful for those who help unlock the mysteries of life.
Throughout history, philosophers have played a crucial role in helping elucidate the one question that plagues us all: What is the purpose of life on Earth? The key that unlocks the answer to this question is not a simple one that you can just pull from your key chain, plug into a small aperture, and turn. Rather, they key is more of a complicated cipher, and the inevitable answer to that complex code is apt to vary from one person to the next. Hence, the austere thinkers in this world – the great philosophers – have tried through a variety of means to answer these questions. Some, like Socrates, used the dialectic method, wherein he walked the streets of Athens asking questions in a polite, non-threatening way to all, from the elite ruling class down to the slaves, with the goal of seeking truth. In the end, his methodology, or what we call the Socratic method, relied on cooperative exchange in asking questions and argumentative dialogue in response to such queries, with the intent of stimulating a more profound, critical understanding to a complex problem.
Other philosophers turned to writing their ideas down in small essays, or treatises, wherein they would formally tackle a perplexing issue in a more systematic way. In the 16th & 17th Centuries, the rise of Enlightenment era gave rise to many influential philosophers, who when armed with a pen and paper, came forth with theories that revolutionized our world. Individuals like Francis Bacon argued that truth could only be obtained through the systematic testing of theories, a belief that gave birth to the modern-day scientific method. Others like Thomas Hobbes wrote about the legitimacy of government in society, ultimately giving rise to political philosophy and the intricate bond that connects each of us with our surrounding environment. And, finally, we need to mention the eminent John Locke, who, despite his ironically close-minded name, helped unlock our understanding of a litany of mystifying topics. His philosophical work would become so influential that it would ultimately lead to an unanticipated upheaval in the political framework of Great Britain and the eventual demise of the British Empire.
Born on this day (Aug 29) in 1632 into a rather influential, aristocratic family, John Locke would be afforded the opportunity to train at some of the most prestigious institutions in England. After matriculation from the Westminster School in London, he studied at Christ Church in Oxford, where he was lauded as a King’s Scholar. While at Oxford, he studied classics, logic, and metaphysics, becoming highly enamored with the works of Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, and Descartes. He pursued a medical degree and ultimately became a member of the prestigious Royal Society.
Instead of tending to the sick, Locke became the personal physician of Lord Ashley, Earl of Shaftsbury, after he saved his life from a serious hepatic infection. Lord Ashley would become an influential chancellor and the eventual father of England’s Whig Party. His prominent position afforded Locke time and opportunity to become a close advisor to his one patient, and, in turn, the erudite physician turned to writing to espouse his own ideas about government, knowledge, and education. Through a series of essays, short letters, and treatises, Locke would provide rational explanation for his disparate viewpoints.
Take, for instance, his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, which provided the belief that humans are not born with innate ideas, but rather, as he noted, are a blank slate, or ‘tabula rosa.’ Only through numerous, sundry experiences with their surrounding world and through reflective introspection do humans acquire knowledge. His viewpoints would ultimately form the basis of modern epistemology.
Take, for example, his Two Treatises of Government, which expounded on the notion of natural law. As Locke would describe it, humans are born with certain natural rights tied to life, liberty, and property. In turn, humans maintain a ‘social contract’ with their governments – that is, they willingly give up some personal freedom to the authority of the state with the anticipation that they would, in turn, be afforded protection of their remaining rights and a semblance of social order. He would go on to reflect that those governments that fail to meet this contract must be viewed as null and void, thereby allowing humans to change such institutions. About a century later, men like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams would call upon Locke’s political philosophy to overthrow British Rule from the American colonies. The French government would follow suit in short order.
Finally, take as an example, his Letter Concerning Toleration, which called for a separation of church and state in our daily lives. Moreover, the treatise called for all governments, including his own in England, to permit religious freedom to all, thereby paving the way for the birth of nations without a specific religious affiliation.
John Locke helped to ‘unlock’ a number of philosophical principles that govern how we view the world today, whether regarding education, politics, or religion. All this is not bad for a physician whose most powerful medical device was his pen.
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