John Locke's classic work An Essay Concerning Human Understanding laid
the foundation of British empiricism and remains of enduring interest
today. Rejecting doctrines of innate principles and ideas, Locke shows
how all our ideas, even the most abstract and complex, are grounded in
human experience--attained by sensation of external things or reflection
upon our mental activities. A thorough examination of the communication
of ideas through language and the convention of taking words as signs of
ideas paves the way for his penetrating critique of the limitations of
ideas and the extent of our knowledge of ourselves, the world, God and
morals. This abridgement, based on P.H. Nidditch's acclaimed critical
edition, retains in full all key passages, thus enabling Locke's
arguments to be more clearly followed. The new introduction by Pauline
Phemister provides valuable background on Locke's essay, illuminating
its arguments and conclusions. The book also includes a chronological
table of significant events, select bibliography, succinct explanatory
notes, and an index--all of which supply additional historical
information and aids to navigating the text.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has
made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the
globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other
valuable features, including expert introductions by leading
authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date
bibliographies for further study, and much more.
