TRAVEL LITERATURE, THE NEW WORLD, AND LOCKE ON SPECIES Cover Image

TRAVEL LITERATURE, THE NEW WORLD, AND LOCKE ON SPECIES
TRAVEL LITERATURE, THE NEW WORLD, AND LOCKE ON SPECIES

Author(s): Patrick J. CONNOLLY
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Editura Universităţii Vasile Goldiş
Keywords: Locke; travel literature; species; natural kinds; taxonomy; classification; Bacon

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the way in which Locke’s deep and longstanding interest in the non-European world contributed to his views on species and their classification. The evidence for Locke’s curiosity about the non-European world, especially his fascination with seventeenth-century travel literature, is presented and evaluated. I claim that this personal interest of Locke’s almost certainly influenced the metaphysical and epistemological positions he develops in the Essay. I look to Locke’s theory of species taxonomy for proof of this. I argue that Locke uses evidence gathered from the non-European world to (1) show that in taxonomizing objects we rely on their sensible qualities rather than their real essences and to (2) undermine Scholastic Aristotelian views about a mind-independent species/genera structure to the world.

  • Issue Year: VII/2013
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 103-116
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: English
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