Locke and the Compass of Human Understanding

This book, first published in 1970, discusses John Locke's most important work, Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Professor Yolton delves into the more interesting and controversial doctrines by asking very specific questions of the text in order to test the propriety of the philosophical labels traditionally applied to Locke.

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The Essay Concerning Human Understanding is John Locke's most important work, and through this selective commentary, first published in 1970, Professor Yolton concentrates our attention on the more interesting and controversial of the doctrines in it. His method of interpretation is to ask very specific questions of the text in order to test the propriety of the philosophical labels traditionally applied to Locke, an approach which he believes yields surprising results. He looks afresh at the various discussions of essence, perception, scientific method, ethics and meaning, and argues that throughout his epistemology Locke is more concerned with problems of description and analysis than with those of justification. This historical perspective is extended by the discussion of issues in the Essay, which retain an independent and philosophical interest.