Locke

1693 · LV2329 — London:: Awnsham & John Churchill 1693. 1693. Small octavo. Collation: A4 B-R8 S4. Pagination: viii 262 2 pp. Modern antique-style spotted paneled calf red morocco spine label edges speckled red old endpapers preserved; some marginal worming G3-N8 with occasional effect to printed text but confined to lower margin some abrasion to fore-edge. Otherwise a fine copy. First Edition "corrected" issue. There has been much discussion of the "states" of the first edition. This copy has the square ornament on the title-page the rules are 13mm below the type and ‘patronage’ on A3v line 19. In addition this copy has the catchword "I" found on A2v indicative of a first printing and not the reprint wherein one finds the catchword altered to "I my". "Locke was known to be concerned at the quality of the printing of his writings and to try to read the sheets before they were finally printed . . . I think the Churchills completed printing the first edition before Locke had made corrections; that he was so incensed by the errors that he insisted the whole first edition be suppressed and the barely distinguishable second edition be made." - Yolton. This copy has most of the corrections but lacks a few at the front of the volume and apparently is made up of some mixed sheets from the first printing. // It quickly became one of his most popular and influential works and is more or less a direct application of Locke’s empiricism as expressed in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding. // From the beginning Some Thoughts Concerning Education was initiated in 1684 with a correspondence with Locke’s friend Edward Clarke. The letters offered to Clarke advice for raising his son and heir. But it was not until William Molyneux encouraged Locke in 1693 to publish this book based on the advice given and even then issuing the first edition without his name on the title. // This work is a cornerstone in educational theory and is further considered a foundation of the principles of modern developmental psychology. "His thought was marked by a ready understanding of and warm sympathy with children. Three main thoughts dominate the work. First the individual aptitudes capacities and idiosyncrasies of the child should govern learning not arbitrary curricular or rote learning taught by the rod. Second Locke placed the health of the body and the development of a sound character ahead of intellectual learning. In the third place he saw that play high spirits and the ‘gamesome humor’ natural to children should govern the business of learning wherever possible. . . His influence on educational thought was enormous and is still very much with us in its fundamental outlook and method." - Encyclopedia of Philosophy. REFERENCES: Alston 10:111; Attig 523; ESTC r213714. T.C. II467; Pfortzheimer 612; Norman 1381; Wing L2762; Yolton 165-6. A[wnsham] & J[ohn] Churchill, 1693. unknown books