John Locke is one of the great minds in educational history. Drawing on his perceptive observations of families and children he saw the importance of adapting learning to the child's dispositions. Critical of schools, he is the fountainhead of home tutoring, child-centred learning, and the importance of enjoyable learning. But for Locke learning was not about facts: a good education produced gentlemen who could in turn adapt themselves to commerce and politics. Locke's philosophy helped provide rigour to the scientific revolution, the impetus for the expansion of schools for the poor (which should be profitable) and child psychology. Alexander Mosely sets Locke's educational writings in their context with a sensitive reading of what Locke understood by 'education' and highlights the relevance of the study of Locke's work to our understanding of education today.

Series Editor's PrefaceForewordPart I: Intellectual Biography1. Introduction2. Educational Experience3. Somerset4. Puritanism5. Dr Samuel Crook6. Parents7. Westminster - Busby8. Oxford - Owen9. The Scientific and Philosophical Revolution10. Robert Boyle11. Rene Descartes12. Humanism13. The Renaissance Child14. Montaigne15. Comenius16. Port Royal Schools17. Ashley Cooper and Locke's Intellectual Break18. Locke's Later YearsPart II: Critical Assessment of Locke's Educational Theories19. Introduction20. Philosophical Overview21. Innatism22. Ideas23. Words24. Knowledge25. Criticisms of the Essay Locke's Theory of Education26. Aristotelian Roots27. Education's Purpose28. Faith and Religion29. Breeding30. Nature/Nurture Debate31. Freedom and Will32. Early Education33. Middle Education34. Scholarly Education35. But Not for the Poor36. Political Man and his Education37. Continued Study38. SummaryPart III: The Reception and Influence of Locke's Work39. Immediate Response and Impact40. Philosophical Legacy41. The Two Bishops' Responses: Berkeley42. Locke's Legacy in the Philosophy of Education The Eighteenth Century The Rousseau Distortion Kant Adam Smith Wollstonecraft The Nineteenth Century The Twentieth CenturyPart IV: The Relevance of John Locke Today43. Introduction44. On Being Relevant45. The Political-Educational Model46. Education's Usefulness47. Lockean Realism48. Critique of Schools and Families49. State Education50. The 'State as Parent' Critique51. Free Market Education52. School CurriculaBibliographyIndex