I always associate John Locke, one of many we were supposed to digest at university, with the notion of tabula rasa (a blank state of mind every pupil has before going to school ) which we would use as an excuse for not understanding smth...

As far as I remember, it was popular to rather share his views and even learn some of his quotes to show off. More likely than not, it was due to his absolutely English name compared to different humes, rousseaus and kants and the like... Little did we realise what it was all about.

Now, starting 'An Essay Concerning Human Understanding' I am still far from assessing the theory itself. Much more pleasure can be experiences from mere reading, exposure to the language, evaluating the style and noticing how words work... Amazing... music to my ear

" Your lordship is known to have so far advanced your speculations in the most abstract and general knowledge of things, beyond the ordinary reach or common methods, that your allowance and approbation of the design of this Treatise will at least preserve it from being condemned without reading, and will prevail to have those parts a little weighed, which might otherwise perhaps be thought to deserve no consideration, for being somewhat out of the common road. "

However, with the alarm clock set for 7 am I think it's time to round off, otherwise the ideas I am most likely to sound tomorrow 'might perhaps be thought to deserve no consideration, for being somewhat out of common road...'

ps joking apart, next comes a remark requiring a closer investigation:

If any man err from the right way, it is his own misfortune, no injury to thee; nor therefore art thou to punish him in the things of this life because thou supposest he will be miserable in that which is to come.


Hope to get it continued...