Locke opposed the theory of natural conception and put forward the "whiteboard theory". He believes that the human mind is like a whiteboard, without all the features and concepts. All thoughts and concepts are acquired, and they are acquired from experience. Locke attributed all human concepts to sensory experience, which includes external (feeling) and internal (psychological activities such as perception, thinking, doubt, reasoning, cognition, will and so on. )。 It is believed that feeling is the main means to know the world and experience is the main source of knowledge.

Locke attaches importance to the role of education, and thinks that "a country's happiness and prosperity" depends on children's good education, and education also plays a decisive role in the formation of human personality and the development of human talents.

Second, the theory of gentleman education

1. Ideological origin

Under the influence of humanistic education thought, humanistic thinker Montaigne and the practice and theory of "gentleman education" in Britain, Locke put forward the problem of gentleman education and systematically expounded it.

2. The role of education

Based on materialism and empiricism, Locke spoke highly of the role of education in human development. In his view, the reason why a person becomes like this or that is not determined by innate endowment, but the result of acquired education.

3. Educational purposes

Cultivating a gentleman is a bourgeois entrepreneur who has a clear consciousness and strong will, grasps the knowledge and skills of enterprise management, has elegant manners, moderate manners, is familiar with the world, is good at dealing with public and private affairs, is diligent and brave, can only meet the needs of personal happiness and promote the development of capitalism.

4. Educational methods

The cultivation of a gentleman must not be through school education, but only through family education.

Locke's view of family education mainly involves: the courage and methods of managing the world that were not learned in the grammar school where the upper-class children entered at that time; The students in the school are mixed and complicated, which is not conducive to the cultivation of gentlemen; There are too many students, so it is difficult for teachers to take care of every student, which affects the formation of good character.

5. The content of gentleman education

Physical education, moral education and intellectual education. Among them, healthy body is the premise of personal happiness and career success, and the standard of healthy body of Locke people is hard work; Moral education occupies the first place in Locke's theoretical system and is the most important quality that a gentleman must possess. It should consider obedience to reason, self-restraint and good manners. Intellectual education is in a secondary position, but it is necessary because it helps to develop rationality, increase talents and deal with all kinds of things. In intellectual education, besides imparting knowledge, it is more important to cultivate the ability of understanding and thinking.