 An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

"An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" is a philosophical work by John Locke, first published in 1689. In this essay, Locke investigates the nature of human knowledge and understanding, profoundly influencing epistemology, the study of knowledge. Locke's central thesis is that the human mind is a tabula rasa, or blank slate, at birth. He argues that all knowledge is derived from experience, primarily through sensation and reflection.