Truth Worth the Seeking: John Locke and Christ Church 📜✨
This study afternoon at Christ Church explores the philosopher John Locke, his intellectual legacy, and his connections to Oxford and the wider European Enlightenment. Locke was elected to a Studentship at Christ Church in 1652, later expelled in 1684 during the political turmoil of the Rye House Plot, and spent formative years in the Netherlands. His pursuit of truth through philosophy, religion, and political theory shaped debates on government legitimacy and religious toleration that continue to resonate today.
The event includes two sessions of talks by leading scholars, alongside an exhibition featuring Locke’s desk, many of his books, and the Royal Order for his expulsion. Registration includes refreshments.
Programme:
- 🕑 13:30 Registration
- 🕑 14:00 Welcome
Session One (14:15 – 15:30):
- Jacob Chatterjee (New College): John Locke, Christ Church, and the Bonds of Friendship, 1651–1726
- Brian Young (Christ Church): John Locke and Robert South
15:30 Refreshments
Session Two (16:00 – 18:30):
- Felix Waldmann (Corpus Christi, Cambridge): Locke’s Books, Manuscripts, and ‘Escritoire’
- Sarah Mortimer (Christ Church): Locke, Oxford, and Amsterdam – rethinking liberty in the 1680s
What to expect:
- 📖 Scholarly talks on Locke’s philosophy, politics, and religious thought
- 🏛️ Exploration of Locke’s ties to Christ Church and Oxford
- 🎓 Contributions from leading historians and philosophers
- 📚 Exhibition of Locke’s desk, books, and expulsion order
- ☕ Refreshments included with registration