John Locke's foundational place in history of British empiricism and liberal political thought is well established. So, in what sense can Locke be considered a modern European philosopher? Identity and Difference argues for reassessing this canonical figure. Closely examining treatise on identity added to second edition of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Etienne Balibar demonstrates Locke's role in formation of two concepts central to metaphysics of subject-consciousness and self-and complex philosophical, legal, moral and political nature of his terms. With an accompanying essay by Stella Sandford, situating Balibar's reading of Locke in history of reception of Essay and within Balibar's other writings on the subject, Identity and Difference rethinks a crucial moment in history of Western philosophy.