Decline of Magic: human understanding

Question 1

what approaches did francis bacon introduce

Answer 1

empiricism and inductive reasoning

Question 2

outline empriricism

Answer 2

the belief that we may have knowledge of the world, but only through sensory observation

Question 3

what is Inductive Thought:

Answer 3

Observing something and forming a conclusion based on what is observed

Question 4

what work did francis bacon publish in 1605

Answer 4

Proficience and Advancement of Learning

Question 5

to what extent did Bacon push forward science and reason…

Answer 5

His ideas and methods began being implemented mainly after 1640, and he influenced members of the Royal Society.

Question 6

what studies were influenced by bacons rational method method

Answer 6

Bacon’s rational method was eventually used in the study of religion (re-examining the bible), society, philosophy and eventually history.

Question 7

Limits to the empiricist approach in disproving magic…

Answer 7

The empiricist approach itself did not deny the existence of magic. In fact, Some of the early members of the Royal Society actually used Bacon’s methods to try to empirically prove the existence of witchcraft.

Question 8

The Foundation of Gresham College in 1597 consisted of..

Answer 8

A group of natural philosophers. The members shared an interest in experimental investigation. Many of the group would go on to be founding members of the Royal Society

Question 9

Gresham’s role in advancing science and understanding of the world in society.

1)

Answer 9

Gresham impacted on Universities, and therefore wider education. astronomy and geometry were essential for understanding the workings of the earth and the universe. However These fields were not recognised by Oxbridge until professorships were created by Gresham.

Question 10

Gresham’s role in advancing science and understanding of the world in society.

2)

Answer 10

Therefore, Gresham, led the way in promoting the academic importance of mathematics and, advancement in science and reason.

Question 11

The Royal Society’s role in advancing science and understanding of the world in society.

Answer 11

The Royal Society wholeheartedly adopted Bacon’s methods of empirical science thus, the RS undermined belief in witchcraft and magic

Question 12

how was the royal society helpful in promoting members work thereby advancing science and understanding of the world in society.

Answer 12

4.The Society helped publish the work of Isaac Newton and John Locke.

in turn, The Society established a reputation for genuinely pushing the boundaries of science.

Question 13

Limits to The Royal Society’s role.

Answer 13

The Society’s commitment to inductive reasoning seemed to highlight some of its flaws:

i. It is too experimental.
ii. It never provides secure knowledge that is unchallengeable.
iii. Whenever the inductive method is used, an element of doubt can always exist when some observed facts cannot be explained.

Question 14

thomas hobbes introduced

Answer 14

materialism

deductive reasoning

Question 15

impact of materialism on the declining belief of witchcraft

Answer 15

→ goes a long way to explaining why belief in witchcraft and magic went into decline after 1660.
→ A crucial argument of Hobbes’ was that unusual phenomena, such as cases of possession, were actually the result of madness, poisoning or epilepsy.

Question 16

Explain the link between Thomas Hobbes, John Webster, Balthasar Bekker and John Holt.

Answer 16

His ideas became very fashionable in the early 18th century, when the final cases of witchcraft were being investigated and sceptical opinion was at its peak.
therefore, All approached cases of witchcraft with a rational mindset were influenced by the work of Hobbes.

Question 17

summarise lockes essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)

Answer 17

In this particular essay, Locke presents a detailed interpretation of the workings of the mind. He ultimately concludes that experience is the most important source of human knowledge.

Question 18

1.Although John Locke also supported materialism, how did he sort of go “one step further” than Hobbes?

Answer 18

He supported materialism and asserted that the “primary” qualities of an object (size, shape etc.) are the same, regardless of how someone perceives them. Secondary qualities such as colour, smell and taste are perceived depending on conditions.

Question 19

primary qualities

Answer 19

independent of an observer. they resemble the qualities of an object such as shape, size, motion

Question 20

secondary qualities

Answer 20

are dependent upon an observer. they dont resemble the qualities of an object

Question 21

how can lockes argument of primary qualities be used to question the exixtence of spirit’s

Answer 21

As spirits do not have primary qualities, their nature and their existence is based on personal perceptions, and thus can never be proved.

Question 22

what was the significance of the essay of human understanding

Answer 22

This essay had great significance for witchcraft and magic and was essentially a publication that got right to the heart of the matter.

Question 23

what year was the publication of Francis Bacon’s “Of the Proficience and Advancement of Learning Divine and Human”

Answer 23

1605

Question 24

what yeear was the publication of Thomas Hobbes’s “De Corpore”

Answer 24

1655

Question 25

Select the statements that are about the impact of Bacon’s work. *

Answer 25

His ideas and methods began being implemented mainly after 1640, and he influenced members of the Royal Society.

The rational method was eventually used in the study of religion (re-examining the bible), society, philosophy and eventually history.

Some of the early members of the Royal Society actually used his methods to try to empirically prove the existence of witchcraft.

Question 26

Who argued that objects had primary and secondary qualities and because spirits had no primary qualities, they can’t be real? *

Answer 26

John Locke

Question 27

4 statements that reflect how publications had an impact on Judicial Scepticism.

Answer 27

Questions around ‘proof’ and evidence began in the late C16th

There was a notable change in acceptance of evidence from shortly before Bacon’s work to after it

An increasing number of judges and jurors aware of the logic and rationality behind ideas from people like Hobbes

There was a shift in accusing people of witchcraft, to finding the accusers guilty