Problems in John Locke's philosophy in the context of the theory of ideas

John Locke is one of the most influential figures in the history of philosophy. It is widely accepted that he laid the intellectual foundations of modern empiricism. His main work, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, is considered a strong defense of modern empiricism. However, Locke's philosophy contains many assumptions that would contradict the empiricist attitude, and at some points, it cannot meet the requirements of empiricism. This is why Locke is often accused of inconsistency. This study aims to identify the points leading to think that there is an inconsistency in Locke's philosophy. In line with this purpose, the study focuses on the theory of ideas, which has an essential importance in Locke's philosophy and around which Locke has shaped his epistemology. In the study, answers will be sought in the context of ideas to questions such as whether there are points that can be considered as inconsistency in Locke's epistemology, and if there is, what are the reasons for them, or if not, how to eliminate the apparent inconsistency. Keywords: Locke; empiricism; idea; inconsistency