My paper proposes to have a look at questions of education in an era of risk in early modern time. Uncertainty in individual lives, families and social networks became part of educational thinking already quite early. In the 17^th century, the expanding European world changed rapidly in the face of reformation and political upheaval. This did not leave educational thinking untouched.

In the centre of my proposal stand different works of John Locke (1637-1707) in which the relation between education and uncertainty, his perception of risk and insecurity are explored. In 1660 he e.g. drafted his First Tract on Government (1660) in the context of restauration. There he wrote in his introduction to the reader that he “found” himself “in a storm, which hath lasted almost hitherto.” (Locke 1660/2002, 7). In the following passages, he expresses the need to “endeavour continuance, by disposing men’s minds to obedience” and “not to hazard again the substantial blessings of peace and settlement” (ibid.). Locke perceived insecurity on different levels throughout his life, e.g. with regard to his health and to his social and political position. More than once the felt threatened to leave England, because of political upheaval. He wrote one of the most influential educational works Some Thoughts concerning Education (1693) of the enlightenment.

Research questions: Which role do insecurities on the local and on the global level play with regard to his educational thoughts? How is educational thought related to securing live and its condition, reducing complexities and creating reliability, for a better future? Lockes works are interpreted taking into account the regional and colonial contexts of his lifetime, e.g. with employing worldsystem theory (Wallerstein). The paper draws on concepts of global history and atlantic history, to shed light in the insecurities Locke and his contemporarys believed to be crucial.

My paper explores the insecurities of the 17th century England. By analysing Lockes ideas case specific in front of his particular context, it sheds light in the significance of uncertainties for educational thought.

Locke, John (1660/2002): First Tract on Government. In: Goldie, Mark (ed.): Political Essays. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Locke, John (1689/ 2005): Two Treatises of Government. In: Laslett, Peter (ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Locke, John (1695/ 2000): Some Thoughts concerning Education. In: Yolton, John W./ Yolton, Jean S. (ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. Matthew, Stuart (eds.) (2016): A Companion to Locke. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Woolhouse, Roger (2007): Locke. A Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.