English empiricist is forward during discussion (5)
I believe the answer is:
locke
'english empiricist' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'forward during discussion' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'forward' could be 'lock' (I've seen this before) and 'lock' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'e' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for locke that I've seen before include "John -, seventeenth to eighteenth century English philosopher" , "A philosopher; sounds like strand of hair" , "English empiricist philosopher, d. 1704" .)