A Short History of Freethought, Volume 1 1 – Robertson · Verses Across
Freethought · History of freethought
A Short History of Freethought, Volume 1 1Preface
18
Freethought · History of freethought
A Short History of Freethought, Volume 1 1
Preface
RobertsonEnglish
§ 1. Freethought in the Gospels: contradictory
forces 218
§ 2. The Epistles: their anti-rationalism 224
§ 3. Anti-pagan rationalism. The Gnostics 224
§ 4. Rationalistic heresy. Arius. Pelagius.
Jovinian. Aerius. Vigilantius. The religious
wars 229
§ 5. Anti-Christian thought: its decline. Celsus.
Last lights of critical thought. Macrobius.
Theodore. Photinus. The expulsion of science.
The appropriation of pagan endowments 235
§ 6. The intellectual and moral decadence. Boethius 243
§ 1. Mohammed and his contemporaries.
Early "Zendekism" 248
§ 2. The Influence of the Koran 252
§ 3. Saracen freethought in the East. The
Motazilites. The Spread of Culture.
Intellectual Collapse 253
§ 4. Al-Ma'arri and Omar Khayyám. Sufîism 261
§ 5. Arab Philosophy and Moorish freethought.
Avempace. Abubacer. Averroës. Ibn Khaldun 266
§ 6. Rationalism in later Islam. Sufîism. Bâbism in
contemporary Persia. Freethinking in Mohammedan
India and Africa 272
§ 1. Heresy in Byzantium. Iconoclasm. Leo. Photius.
Michael. The early Paulicians 277
§ 2. Critical Heresy in the West. Vergilius.
Claudius. Agobard. John Scotus. The case of
Gottschalk. Berengar. Roscelin. Nominalism and
Realism. Heresy in Florence and in France 282
§ 3. Popular Anti-Clerical Heresy. The Paulicians
(Cathari) in Western Europe: their anticipation
of Protestantism. Abuses of the Church and
papacy. Vogue of anti-clerical heresy. Peter
de Brueys. Eudo. Paterini. Waldenses 291
§ 4. Heresy in Southern France. The crusade against
Albigensian heresy. Arrest of Provençal
civilization: Rise and character of the
Inquisition 299
§ 5. Freethought in the Schools. The problem set to
Anselm. Roscelin. Nominalism and Realism.
Testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis: Simon of
Tournay. William of Conches. Abailard. John of
Salisbury 307
§ 6. Saracen and Jewish Influences. Maimonides. Ibn
Ezra. Averroïsts. Amalrich. David of Dinant.
Thomas Aquinas. Unbelief at Paris University.
Suppressive action of the Church. Judicial
torture 315
§ 7. Freethought in Italy. Anti-clericalism in
Florence. Frederick II. Michael Scotus. Dante's
views. Pietro of Abano. Brunetto Latini. Cecco
Stabili. Boccaccio. Petrarch. Averroïsm 322
§ 8. Sects and Orders. Italian developments. The
Brethren of the Free Spirit. Beghards, etc.
Franciscans. Humiliati. Abbot Joachim.
Segarelli and Dolcino 331
§ 9. Thought in Spain. Arab influences. Heresy under
Alfonso X. The first Inquisition. Arnaldo of
Villanueva. Enrique IV. Pedro do Osma. The New
Inquisition. The causes of Spanish evolution 337
§ 10. Thought in England. Roger Bacon. Chaucer.
Items in Piers Ploughman. Lollardry. Wiclif 342
§ 11. Thought in France. François de Rues. Jean de
Meung. Reynard the Fox. Paris university. The
sects. The Templars. William of Occam. Marsiglio.
Pierre Aureol. Nominalism and Realism. "Double
truth." Unbelief in the Paris schools 351
§ 12. Thought in the Teutonic Countries. The
Minnesingers. Walter der Vogelweide. Master
Eckhart. Sects. The Imitatio Christi 361
§ 1. The Italian Evolution. Saracen Sources.
Anti-clericalism. Discredit of the Church.
Lorenzo Valla. Masuccio. Pulci. Executions
for blasphemy. Averroïsm. Nifo. Unbelief at
Rome. Leonardo da Vinci. Platonism. Pico della
Mirandola. Machiavelli. Guicciardini. Belief
in witchcraft. Pomponazzi. Pomponio Leto. The
survival of Averroïsm. Jewish freethought 365
§ 2. The French Evolution. Desperiers. Rabelais.
Dolet. The Vaudois massacres. Unbelieving
Churchmen. Marguerite of Navarre. Ronsard.
Bodin. Vallée. Estienne. Pleas for tolerance.
Revival of Stoicism 379
§ 3. The English Evolution. Reginald Pecock. Duke
Humphrey. Unbelief in immortality 393
§ 4. The Remaining European Countries. Nicolaus of
Cusa. Hermann van Ryswyck. Astrology and
science. Summary 398
§ 1. The German Conditions. The New Learning.
Economic Causation 403
§ 2. The Problem in Italy, Spain, and the
Netherlands. Savonarola. Catholic reaction.
The New Inquisition. Heresy in Italy. Its
suppression. The Index Expurgatorius. Italian
and northern "character" 407
§ 3. The Hussite Failure in Bohemia. Early
anti-clericalism. Militz and his school. Huss
and Jerome. The Taborite wars. Helchitsky 415
§ 4. Anti-Papalism in Hungary. Early
anti-clericalism. Rapid success of the
Reformation. Its decline. New heresy.
Socinianism. Biandrata. Davides. Recovery
of the Church 419
§ 5. Protestantism in Poland. Early anti-clericalism.
Inroad of Protestantism. Growth of Unitarianism.
Goniondzki. Pauli. Catholic reaction 422
§ 6. The Struggle in France. Attitude of King
Francis. Economic issues. Pre-Lutheran
Protestantism. Persecution. Berquin. Protestant
violences. Fortunes of the cause in France 427
§ 7. The Political Process in Britain. England not
specially anti-papal. The causation. Henry's
divorce. Spoliation 431
§ 1. Germany and Switzerland. Mutianus. Crotus.
Bebel. Rise of Unitarianism. Luther and
Melanchthon. Their anti-democratic politics.
Their dogmatism. Zwingli. Calvin and his
victims. Gruet. The Libertini. Servetus.
Gripaldi. Calvin's polity. Ochino. Anthoine.
Moral failure of Protestantism 434
§ 2. England. Henry and Wolsey. Advanced heresy.
Persecution. Sir Thomas More 458
§ 3. The Netherlands. Calvinism and Arminianism.
Reaction towards Catholicism. Barneveldt.
Grotius 461
§ 4. Conclusion. The intellectual failure. Indirect
gains to freedom 464
§ 1. The Italian Influence. Deism. Unitarianism.
Latitudinarianism. Aconzio. Nizolio. Pereira 466
§ 2. Spain. Huarte 470
§ 3. France. Treatises against atheism: De Mornay.
New skepticism: Sanchez. Montaigne. Charron.
The Satyre-Menippée. Garasse on the Beaux
Esprits. Mersenne's attack 473
PREFACE
This, the third edition, represents a considerable expansion of the second (1906), which in its turn was a considerable expansion of the first (1899). The book now somewhat approximates, in point of fullness, to the modest ideal aimed at. Anything much fuller would cease to be a "Short History."
The process of revision, carried on since the last issue, has, I hope, meant some further advance towards correctness, and some improvement in arrangement--a particularly difficult matter in such a book. As before, the many critical excursus have been so printed that they may be recognized and skipped by those readers who care to follow only the narrative. The chapter on the nineteenth century, though much expanded, like those on the eighteenth, remains, I fear, open to objection on the score of scantiness. I can only plead that the ample and excellent work of Mr. A. W. Benn has now substantially met the need for a fuller survey of that period.
It is fitting that I should acknowledge the generous critical reception given by most reviewers to the previous editions of a book which, breaking as it did new ground, lacked the gain from previous example that accrues to most historical writing. My many debts to historians of culture are, I trust, indicated in the notes; but I have to repeat my former acknowledgments as to the Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of my dead friend, J. M. Wheeler, inasmuch as the aid I have had from his manifold research does not thus appear on the surface.
It remains to add my thanks to a number of friendly correspondents who have assisted me by pointing out shortcomings and errors. Further assistance of the same kind will be gratefully welcomed. It is still my hope that the book may help some more leisured student in the construction of a more massive record of the development of rational thought on the side of human life with which it deals.
An apology is perhaps due to the purchasers of the second edition, which is now superseded by a fuller record. I can but plead that I have been unable otherwise to serve their need; and express a hope that the low price of the present edition will be a compensation.
