Final answer:
John Locke is known for his philosophy that the mind begins as a blank slate ('tabula rasa') and that knowledge comes from experience. This idea forms the foundation of empiricism. His work also had a profound impact on political philosophy, introducing the concept of the social contract and influencing the development of democratic governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Locke wrote in his seminal work, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, that the mind is a 'tabula rasa', that is, a blank slate at birth. He profoundly influenced modern philosophy and helped form empiricism, which believes that knowledge is derived from sensory experience. Locke's ideas also extensively shaped the Enlightenment and the founding principles of many governments, particularly in the concepts of natural rights and the social contract.
Furthermore, Locke believed identity was tied to consciousness and continuous self-awareness, which he described using a thought experiment involving a prince and a cobbler. This psychological approach to personal identity was a departure from more traditional, biologically-centered theories. In the realm of political philosophy, Locke theorized that governments were created by humans through a social contract to protect the citizens' natural rights, and not by divine right as was commonly believed at the time. His beliefs have had a lasting impact on the formation of modern democratic societies.