What An Essay Concerning Human Understanding is about
Locke's inquiry into where ideas come from and how people come to know anything at all. John Locke wrote it in 1690. It sits in the philosophy shelf of the library.
The edition you read
The original text is the John Locke, 1690, a public domain edition. The text is complete and keeps its own chapter structure, so every reading points back to the same place in the book.
Where to start
The book opens with these readings, in order. The first one is free in the app.
- CHAP. I.: Introduction
- Universal consent rejected
- Assent follows acquired ideas
- Immediate assent follows learned ideas rather than innate inscription
How the readings are split
The 143 readings follow the book's own divisions, grouped into 4 parts. Each reading is a sitting of a few minutes, and the reader remembers the paragraph where you stopped.
Reading it in plain English
Every reading has a plain English draft written paragraph by paragraph, and a short guide with context, an explanation, takeaways and a question to think about. The drafts are labeled Unreviewed plain English draft. Drafts, guides and the readings after the first one need Athenaeum Membership.
Questions about An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Is An Essay Concerning Human Understanding free to read?
The John Locke, 1690 is in the public domain. In Athenaeum the first of its 143 readings is free, and Athenaeum Membership opens the rest.
How long is An Essay Concerning Human Understanding?
Athenaeum splits it into 143 readings. Short books take a week of evenings, and long ones work best a reading or two at a time.
Read An Essay Concerning Human Understanding in Athenaeum
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