The sovereignty of reason : the defense of rationality in the early English Enlightenment / Frederick C. Beiser.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Beiser, Frederick C., 1949- author.

Series:

Princeton Legacy Library

Princeton legacy library

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Enlightenment--England.

Enlightenment.

Reason--History--18th century.

Reason.

Philosophy, English--18th century.

Philosophy, English.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (346 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [1996]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

The Sovereignty of Reason is a survey of the rule of faith controversy in seventeenth-century England. It examines the arguments by which reason eventually became the sovereign standard of truth in religion and politics, and how it triumphed over its rivals: Scripture, inspiration, and apostolic tradition. Frederick Beiser argues that the main threat to the authority of reason in seventeenth-century England came not only from dissident groups but chiefly from the Protestant theology of the Church of England. The triumph of reason was the result of a new theology rather than the development of natural philosophy, which upheld the orthodox Protestant dualism between the heavenly and earthly. Rationalism arose from a break with the traditional Protestant answers to problems of salvation, ecclesiastical polity, and the true faith. Although the early English rationalists were not able to defend all their claims on behalf of reason, they developed a moral and pragmatic defense of reason that is still of interest today.Beiser's book is a detailed examination of some neglected figures of early modern philosophy, who were crucial in the development of modern rationalism. There are chapters devoted to Richard Hooker, the Great Tew Circle, the Cambridge Platonists, the early ethical rationalists, and the free-thinkers John Toland and Anthony Collins.Originally published in 1996.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION. The Problem of the English Enlightenment

CHAPTER 1. The Protestant Challenge

CHAPTER 2. Hooker's Defense of Reason

CHAPTER 3. The Great Tew Circle

CHAPTER 4. Cambridge Platonism

CHAPTER 5. Enthusiasmus Triumphatus

CHAPTER 6. Toland and the Deism Controversy

CHAPTER 7. Ethical Rationalism

CONCLUSION. Faith in Reason

INDEX

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 08. Jul 2019)

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781400864447

1400864445

OCLC:

922696486