Locke Questions

ENGL 520

Dr. Fike

1. Put Locke’s piece on “enthusiasm” through the elements of critical thinking.  Here is a suggested order:  context, point of view, question at issue, purpose, concepts, assumptions, (arguments), information, implications and consequences, interpretations, alternatives, and conclusions.  We will discuss your analysis in class.  Does “going around the circle” of elements enable you to see any weaknesses in Locke’s presentation?  Do you find it sufficient?

2. Does the excerpt we read undermine traditional Christianity?  What points here would have offended the clergy?  Bunyan, Browne, Donne, Herbert:  Would Locke be positive or critical of anything in the works by these authors?

3. How would you apply Locke’s ideas about reasoned evidence vs. enthusiasm to any of the religious works that we have studied so far this term?

4. What is the relationship between Locke’s piece and the following quotations?

·        1 John 4:1:  “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

·        Philippians 4:8:  “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”