Baxter, Richard (1615-1691)

Am 12.11.1615 in Rowton geboren, Vertreter eines gemäßigten Calvinismus und Führer der Nonkonformisten, die sich für eine Einigung der Kirchen einsetzten. 1660 zum Kaplan ernannt; Konzeption einer eigenen Kirchenverfassung wurde vom König abgelehnt. Wirkte danach als Wanderprediger, wurde verfolgt und mehrmals bestraft. Er starb am 8.12.1691 in London.

Biografie nach http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/libraries/rare/modernity/baxter.html
Richard Baxter was a puritan congregationalist who was a prolific writer and theological controversialist. He was also a dedicated pastor and some of his pastoral writings are still in print today. This work is of interest because in it Baxter claims that the mind is a tabula rasa or blank slate. This denial of innate principles and ideas predates Locke's attack on the doctrine in the Essay by 35 years. Baxter's discussion of the issue reveals that he was conscious of the controversial nature of his views. Interestingly, Baxter was well read in philosophy and the new natural philosophy in spite of his busy life as a churchman.

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