Common Use in Locke’s Philosophy of Language

Research ← Paper

Forthcoming in Locke’s An Essay concerning Human Understanding: A Critical Guide, edited by Matthew Leisinger. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Abstract

Locke assigns “common use” a significant role in his philosophy of language—it is the standard against which linguistic propriety is measured and the basis on which speakers acquire the meanings of words. This paper examines what Locke means by common use, how it functions as a semantic authority, and what philosophical problems it is designed to solve. The paper draws on an original corpus analysis of Locke’s own use of the phrase “common use” in the Essay and related texts.

Working Paper

Draft 2.0 (working paper—please do not cite without permission)Download

Dataset & Supporting Materials

Common Use Textual Data (XLSX)Download