(1632-1704) British philosopher; first modern empiricist. A forerunner of Deism. Wrote 1. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and 2. The Reasonableness of Christianity. The mind at birth is a tabula rasa (blank
tablet) on which are impressed experiences (impressions) which produce simple ideas. Simple ideas are joined by reflection to form complex ideas. Even abstract
ideas such as cause, substance, or logical implication reduce to simple ideas. There are no universal, necessary or a priori innate ideas independent of experience
(unlike Platoor Kant). Certain qualities (such as extension, shape, etc.) are presented to all knowers as the objective primary qualities. These give rise to the
subjective. Revelation cannot contradict reason; knowledge comes by reflection on sensations.