The Importance of Intellectuals on the Growth of Science and Reason Flashcards
How was Gresham College different to other universities at the time?
-Gresham impacted on Universities, and therefore wider education. Astronomy and geometry were not recognised by Oxbridge until professorships were created by Gresham.
How did astronomy and geometry grow in universities?
- In 1619, professorships in astronomy and geometry were founded at Oxford and those who filled these vacancies, in the first decade were chosen from Gresham.
How did Gresham College impact witchcraft belief?
Therefore, Gresham, led the way in promoting the academic importance of mathematics and, by extension, advancement in science and reason.
What were the negatives surrounding Gresham College?
Gresham was not a formal and recognised institution. There was no Royal Charter for it and support from the King.
How did Gresham College NOT impact witchcraft belief?
- The “invisible college” began meeting in 1645, a time of political upheaval in England (The Civil War) and when hysteria still ran deep within communities (E.g. East Anglia).
- Its impact was limited to academic circles.
How was the Royal Society important for Science and reason?
- The Society was a second chance for religious nonconformists, there was an easier avenue for challenging ideas to get out
- The Society established a reputation for genuinely pushing the boundaries of science.
- The Society helped publish the work of Isaac Newton and John Locke.
How did the Royal Society change witchcraft belief?
Some historians have argued that the RS undermined belief in witchcraft and magic through its focus on critical investigation, the work of Francis Bacon
How did the Royal Society NOT change witchcraft belief?
The Society’s early members were interested in magical areas of study. Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, John Aubrey and Thomas Henshaw all took an interest in astrology or alchemy.
How did the Royal Society help feed into the idea of witchcraft?
Joseph Glanvill made much of his reputation as a member of the Society when he argued for the existence of witches. He tried to use the Baconian method to argue for the existence of witches.
How did the Royal Society create doubt, which ultimately didn’t change witchcraft belief?
The Society’s commitment to inductive reasoning seemed to highlight some of its flaws → whenever the inductive method is used, an element of doubt can always exist
What were the two ideas Francis Bacon proposed?
Empiricism and Inductive Reasoning
What is empiricism?
- experiencing something through senses is the predominant focus of expanding knowledge
- our knowledge of nature depends upon our observations of natural phenomena
What is Inductive Reasoning?
Observing something and forming a conclusion based on what is observed
What was the impact of Francis Bacon’s ‘Proficience of Learning’ (1605)?
A noticeable change in acceptance of evidence from shortly before to afterwards.
What is an example of change in acceptance of evidence after Francis Bacon?
- Lord Chief Justice Sir Edmund Anderson (1602), he was willing to suspend normal ‘proofs’ and convict on ‘presumptions’.
-Heneage Finch, a leading legal figure, oversaw a trial in 1620s where the Justice of the Peace, rather than convicting on conscience they convicted on ‘hard’ evidence- the Devil’s Mark
What does this change in acceptance of evidence suggest?
Suggests there was a slight change in attitudes towards requirements to find a witch guilty across all levels of the judiciary system
What were the two ideas Thomas Hobbes proposed?
Materialism and Deductive thought
What is Materialism?
- everything is created by matter and that all observed events are the result of matter acting on matter.
- concepts such as the soul and existence of witchcraft could be questioned.
What is Deductive Thought?
- Application of existing rules
- Testing of prepositions
- Use of preconceived theories with facts collected to prove theory.
What was the impact of Thomas Hobbes?
An increasing number of judges and jurors aware of the logic and rationality behind ideas from people like Hobbes.
What is an example of judges aware of more rationality?
Joan Buts, Surrey 1682 was found innocent as the jury found it difficult to prove. The presiding judge, Matthew Hale, purposefully left out evidence (a significant amount of spectral evidence) so that the jurors would led by their heart.
What does the impact of Thomas Hobbes suggest?
- Indicates that the spread of ideas was increasing and affecting even more levels of the judiciary
- Reveals that public attitudes towards spectral evidence was significant, if Hale was concerned about how it might affect the decision
What was another impact of Thomas Hobbes?
A shift in accusing people of witchcraft, to finding the accusers guilty
What is an example of accusers being found guilty?
- Sir John Holt, in 1701 Richard Hathaway was found guilty for falsely accusing a woman named Sarah Moordike
- John Holt focussed on the evidence that was provided, and questioned experts on the ‘scientificity’ of the evidence, asked whether it was possible for someone to live for 2 weeks without eating.