Of the Conduct of the Understanding
Locke examines habits that help or hinder inquiry: curiosity, prejudice, confidence and examination of evidence. He proposes educating the mind to correct its judgments.
Understanding the text
The unfinished text appeared posthumously in 1706 in works edited by Peter King. Its publication must be distinguished from editions of the Essay concerning Human Understanding.
Key points
- 01
Habit
Intellectual habits influence how arguments are accepted or dismissed.
- 02
Prejudice
A judgment may seem obvious because its origins have not been examined.
- 03
Inquiry
Comparing perspectives and seeking evidence improves the conduct of reasoning.
How to read it
Choose a familiar opinion and identify evidence that could lead you to revise it.
Editions & sources
- Consult the reference 1plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 2plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 3iep.utm.edunew tab
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗