Chapter XVII: From Superstition to Scholarship (1648 - 1715)

Part I. Impediments

• vast majority of people in 17th century had no rational basis for what htey believed – with burning was still popular
• censorship isolated Catholic regions while Protestant infighting released some authors from centralised control
• multiple sects also improved toleration
• printing press, study of the bible spread knowledge
• rising demand for intellectual freedom
  • "Letters on Toleration" by John Locke
  • "Tractácus theologicopoliticus" by Spinoza

Part II. Education

• printing newspapers and libraries spread knowledge
• increasing circulation of books
• rise of universal, required elementary education
  • "Some thoughts Concerning Education" by John Locke
    • diet, exercise, character, habits, discipline, languages via conversation
    • goal of education is to open opportunities
    • importance of mathematics to developing rational thinking

Part III. The Scholars

Richard Bentley

• Cambridge master
• debate on ancient vs modern literature
• "Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris"

Thomas Stanley

• "History of Philosophy"
  • covered arabic philosophy as wel which broadened the scope
  • relativity of morals began breaking Christian hold on thought

Richard Simon

• critique of old testament