Read The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment

The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment

Michael Hunter

4.9/5 (34269 ratings)

Description:A new history which overturns the received wisdom that science displaced magic in Enlightenment BritainIn early modern Britain, belief in prophecies, omens, ghosts, apparitions and fairies was commonplace. Among both educated and ordinary people the absolute existence of a spiritual world was taken for granted. Yet in the eighteenth century such certainties were swept away. Credit for this great change is usually given to science – and in particular to the scientists of the Royal Society. But is this justified?Michael Hunter argues that those pioneering the change in attitude were not scientists but freethinkers. While some scientists defended the reality of supernatural phenomena, these sceptical humanists drew on ancient authors to mount a critique both of orthodox religion and, by extension, of magic and other forms of superstition. Even if the religious heterodoxy of such men tarnished their reputation and postponed the general acceptance of anti-magical views, slowly change did come about. When it did, this owed less to the testing of magic than to the growth of confidence in a stable world in which magic no longer had a place.We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment. To get started finding The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

Pages: —

Format: PDF, EPUB & Kindle Edition

Publisher: —

Release: 2020

ISBN: 0300243588

Description: A new history which overturns the received wisdom that science displaced magic in Enlightenment BritainIn early modern Britain, belief in prophecies, omens, ghosts, apparitions and fairies was commonplace. Among both educated and ordinary people the absolute existence of a spiritual world was taken for granted. Yet in the eighteenth century such certainties were swept away. Credit for this great change is usually given to science – and in particular to the scientists of the Royal Society. But is this justified?Michael Hunter argues that those pioneering the change in attitude were not scientists but freethinkers. While some scientists defended the reality of supernatural phenomena, these sceptical humanists drew on ancient authors to mount a critique both of orthodox religion and, by extension, of magic and other forms of superstition. Even if the religious heterodoxy of such men tarnished their reputation and postponed the general acceptance of anti-magical views, slowly change did come about. When it did, this owed less to the testing of magic than to the growth of confidence in a stable world in which magic no longer had a place.We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment. To get started finding The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

Special Offer | $0.00

Special Offer! | $0.00

The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment

The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment

More Books

The Hunters (Michael Parson & Sophia Gold, #6)

The Hunters (Michael Parson & Sophia Gold, #6)

Mending Michael (Hunter Hill University #2)

Mending Michael (Hunter Hill University #2)

Death of a Hunter (Michael Gallatin)

Death of a Hunter (Michael Gallatin)

Flashback

Flashback

The Hunter from the Woods (Michael Gallatin #2)

The Hunter from the Woods (Michael Gallatin #2)

Star Wars: Darth Maul - Shadow Hunter

Star Wars: Darth Maul - Shadow Hunter

Dr. Michael Hunter's Breast DCIS (Dr. Michael Hunter's Cancer Series Book 1)

Dr. Michael Hunter's Breast DCIS (Dr. Michael Hunter's Cancer Series Book 1)

Dr. Michael Hunter’s Lung Cancer Book: What YOU Need to Know (Dr. Michael Hunter’s Cancer Books Book 1)

Dr. Michael Hunter’s Lung Cancer Book: What YOU Need to Know (Dr. Michael Hunter’s Cancer Books Book 1)

Wrongly Accused

Wrongly Accused