John Locke’s philosophical ideas were greatly informed by his family upbringing. Born into a Puritan family, he was taught the values of reason and critical thinking, which laid the groundwork for his later theories on empiricism and government. His father's involvement in the English Civil War influenced his perspectives on political authority and individual rights. Locke’s education at Oxford further affirmed his belief in the importance of knowledge and experience, culminating in his views on the nature of human understanding and the foundation of civil society.