An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Interesting Facts

• The book is considered one of the foundational works in modern philosophy and has significantly influenced the development of empiricism.
• In the book, Locke introduces the concept of «tabula rasa», asserting that the human mind is initially a blank slate on which experience leaves its marks.
• Locke critiques the theory of innate ideas, asserting that all knowledge comes from experience.
• Locke's work was a significant contribution to the development of the theory of knowledge, especially regarding the nature of ideas and their origins.
• The book consists of four parts, each dedicated to different aspects of human understanding, including ideas, words, knowledge, and opinion.
• Locke discusses the distinction between simple and complex ideas and analyzes the process of forming complex ideas from simple ones.
• The book addresses the concept of personal identity, which is linked to the continuity of consciousness.