Reasons for the decline of belief in Magic (T1) Flashcards
What are the 5 reasons for a decline in the belief of magic?
Fraudulent cases Sceptic Publications Scientific Revolution Human Understanding Judicial Scepticism
What case happened in 1597?
The Boy of Burton Fraudulent Case
When was the The Boy of Burton Fraudulent Case?
1597
What happened in the The Boy of Burton Fraudulent Case?
Alice Goodridge is accused of causing hallucinations by Thomas Darling- a doctor confirms this. John Darrell is brought into exorcise Darling (remove the demon). During trial, Darling confesses the case is fraudulent- Darling and Darrell are imprisoned for a year.
What case happened in 1634?
The Pendle Swindle Case
When was the The Pendle Swindle Case?
1634
What happened in the The Pendle Swindle Case?
Edmund Robinson accuses Jennett Device of participating in a Sabbatt, a hunt is organised and 17 more are accused. The magistrate is sceptical and refers the case to London- the evidence is questioned (use of sleep deprivation) and Robinson admits to fraud.
What case happened in 1662?
The Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case
When was the The Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case?
1662
What happened in The Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case?
Drury used a drum to raise money for the poor, he was accused for using it to cast spells over houses, an investigation supports the accusation. Drury is deported for theft, and the disturbances stop immediately. Manages to escape when the ship he was on encounters storms.
What case happened in 1712?
The Jane Wenham Case
When was the The Jane Wenham Case?
1712
What happened in the The Jane Wenham Case?
Jane Wenham was a wise woman, with a reputation for being a witch. She was falsely accused of bewitching someone by his employer, and when her compensation wasn’t enough she cast a curse, 16 people support different accusations. The judge (John Powell) at trial is sceptical about the case, and recommends she is found innocent. However the Jury still find her guilty so Powell secures her a royal pardon.
What was published in 1584?
Reginald Scot
The Discoverie of Witchcraft
When was Reginald Scot
The Discoverie of Witchcraft published?
1584
What was The Discoverie of Witchcraft about?
Questioned whether there was any biblical basis/ foundation for witch hunting
What was published in 1599?
Samuel Harsnett
The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel
When was Samuel Harsnett
The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel published?
1599
What was Samuel Harsnett
The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel about?
Rejected all witchcraft. Harsnett was deeply suspicious about the Boy of Burton case, claimed Darrel was a fraud
What was published in 1656?
Thomas Ady
A Candle in the Dark
When was Thomas Ady
A Candle in the Dark published?
1656
What was Thomas Ady’s
A Candle in the Dark about?
Witches do exist, but they don’t have a pact with the Devil, used the Bible to support his argument, saying there was no reference to witches and hunts. Critical of James I’s book ‘Daemonologie
What was published in 1677?
John Webster
The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft
When was John Webster
The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft published?
1677
What was John Webster
The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft about?
Reinforced Ady’s suggestion that the Bible failed to mention witchcraft, he argued that witches existed but are not in control of the supernatural - promoted rational/ materialistic thinking
What was published in 1691?
Balthasar Bekker
The Enchanted World
When was Balthasar Bekker
The Enchanted World published?
1691
What was Balthasar Bekker
The Enchanted World about?
Most influential publisher, continued to build on Ady’s arguments using the Bible to undermine the argument for witchcraft- believed witchcraft was deception. Published at a time when intellectual thinking was changing
What Scientific Revolution happened in 1543?
Copernicus The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres
When was Copernicus
The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres?
1543
What did Copernicus’ The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres Include?
Right at the start of the Scientific Revolution, he proposed the universe was heliocentric (the sun at the centre, not the earth), agreed with Aristotle that planets moved in perfect circles
What Scientific Revolution happened in 1609?
Kepler
Astronomia Nova
When was Kepler
Astronomia Nova?
1609
What did Kepler Astronomia Nova Include?
I. Planet move in elliptical orbits (move in an oval shape) around the sun
II. Planets don’t travel at a constant speed, they speed up when approaching the sun
What Scientific Revolution happened in 1632?
Galileo Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems
When was Galileo Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems?
1632
What did Galileo
Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems Include?
Rejected the right of the church to act as an authority on scientific matters, and developed a system that fused maths and natural science, went on to inspire later scientists
What Scientific Revolution happened in 1687?
Isaac Newton
Principia Mathematica
When was Isaac Newton
Principia Mathematica?
1687
What did Isaac Newton
Principia Mathematica Include?
Important piece of scientific work: mathematically proved Kepler’s law of planetary motion. He was able to show centrifugal force, the idea that planets are pulled towards the gravity of the sun, this also forms a circular orbit of the planets around the sun
What piece of Human Understanding happened in 1605?
Francis Bacon
Proficience and Advancement of Learning
When was Francis Bacon
Proficience and Advancement of Learning?
1605
What did Francis Bacon
Proficience and Advancement of Learning include?
Empirical knowledge, learnt from experience and observation is the most superior form of knowledge “if men begin with doubts but observe known facts, they will end with certainties”
What piece of Human Understanding happened in 1655?
Thomas Hobbes
De Corpore
When was Thomas Hobbes
De Corpore?
1655
What did Thomas Hobbes
De Corpore include?
Promoted deductive reasoning over inductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning: an idea is tested to see if it’s true through observation
Inductive reasoning: an idea is formed and then worked backward towards generalizations and theories
What piece of Human Understanding happened in
1658?
Thomas Hobbes
De Homine
When was Thomas Hobbes
De Homine?
1658
What did Thomas Hobbes
De Homine include?
Materialism: the theory or belief that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.
What piece of Human Understanding happened in 1690?
John Locke
Essay Concerning Human Understanding
When was John Locke
Essay Concerning Human Understanding?
1690
What did John Locke
Essay Concerning Human Understanding include?
- Humans are born without knowledge
- Focus on language and importance of words
- Questioned whether knowledge could be trusted
Empiricism is everything, no room for the supernatural
Spirits have no primary qualities (things that can’t be argued)
When and why did Scepticism begin?
Scepticism began when people started to doubt there was any biblical foundation for witch hunting.
In 1584, Reginald Scot wrote the Discoverie of Witchcraft and initially questioned the scriptural foundation for witch hunting. This was developed further by Thomas Ady in 1656.
Why did Scepticism continue to grow?
Scepticism continued to grow when certain cases appeared to be supported by fraudulent evidence.
The Boy of Burton case in 1597, resulted in the accused dying in prison before the accusers: Darling and Darrel confessed that the case was fraudulent and were imprisoned. This happened again in 1662 during the Demon Drummer of Tedworth case and the last ever witchcraft case: Jane Wenham in 1712.
Who was a significant individual when it came to Judicial Scepticism?
Sir John Holt. He presided over 12 witchcraft trials and found all of the accused innocent. He put an emphasis on needing firm proof to sentence. Essentially, he put the accuser on trial.
