Sceptical Publications: Reginald Scot - 1584 Flashcards
What was the name of his publication?
‘A Discoverie of Witchcraft’
Who was he influenced by, and what were their beliefs?
Johann Weyer:
- Witches suffered from melancholia.
- Unable to cause harm - merely tools of the Devil.
What was he a member of?
A radical Protestant sect called ‘The Family of Love’:
- Rejected infant baptism and traditional Catholic practices.
What did the Family of Love believe?
Nature controlled events on a daily basis, not God.
Particular contempt for Catholic church - Scot makes a connection between fraud trial and Catholics.
In what way was he influenced by the Essex trials (1570s/1580s)?
He disapproved of the effects of the hunts - 14 arrests and 2 executions.
He still believed in witches tho.
What did he have to do with his book?
He had to self publish it due to its controversy.
How was his publication controversial?
It stated that disturbances are often attributed to witches despite there being no evidence, as well as other possible explanations.
What were his key points?
- Women did harm to others naturally - eg poison.
- Women who believed themself to be witches suffered from delusions or melancholia.
- Doubted far fetched accusations such as cannibalism.
What else did his book do?
Discounts magic tricks disguised as supernatural phenomena.
- Sacraments of the Catholic Church were in his list of magic tricks - his belief that the CC heightened fear of witches and was responsible for much cruelty to suspects.
Why was he sceptical?
- Believed in the ‘supernatural unknown’ - undiscovered elements of nature can explain the unknown phenomena - discredits magic entirely.
- Belief in witchcraft not compatible with Canon Episcopi views - witchcraft not real = cases of deception.
- As a scholar, he struggled to rationalise the beliefs of his tenants.
How did it do more harm than good in the short term?
James wrote Daemonologie in response, denouncing Scot as unchristian and proclaiming his own unwavering belief in witches.
Once King of England, James ordered for every copy to be burnt.
What impact did it have?
- It influenced future writers and scholars. It planted the seed upon which the tree of scepticism would flourish. Without Scot, there would be no Ady or Bekker.
- James’ reaction showed how his book went against beliefs - people saw it as a threat.
- It was republished many times - was obviously important and respected.
How was its impact limited?
- He still believed in witches and the Devil - didn’t strike at the heart of the problem.
- He was writing in a time BEFORE the scientific revolution really got going.
- It preceded the majority of hunts and the 1604 Act - his arguments weren’t being heard or having an affect.
