Locke and French Materialism [Hardcover]

This book tells for the first time the long and complex story of the involvement of Locke's suggestion that God could add to matter the power of thought in hisEssay Concerning Human Understandingin the growth of French materialism. There is a discussion of the 'affaire de Prades', in which Locke's name was linked with a censored thesis at the Faculty of Theology in Paris. The similarities and differences between English thinking matter and the French mati?re pensante of thephilosophesare also discussed.

This book is masterpiece of erudition and research by an eminent Locke scholar....The book will be of lasting interest to students of the history of French and English philosophy. --Eighteenth-Century Studies

An exemplar of scholarly analysis and detail. --The Modern Schoolman

This is an excellent resource for scholars interested in 18th-century philosophy of mind. --Choice

Yolton's work simultaneously presents an extremely sophisticated picture of several major dimensions of the reception of Locke'sEssayin France....It is to be hoped that future books will extend our understanding of the multifaceted influence of theEssayupon Enlightenment culture in other countries as lucidly as this exemplary book has extended our understanding of the roles of theEssayin the French Enlightenment. --Journal of Modern History