Why did belief in witchcraft decline? Flashcards
The Boy of Burton Fraudulent Case
1597: Alice Goodridge (AG) accused of causing hallucinations by Thomas Darling (TD)- a dr confirms this. John Darrell (JD) brought into exorcise TD. During trial, TD confesses case is fraudulent- TD and JD imprisoned for year.
The Pendle Swindle Case
1634:
Edmund Robinson accuses Jennett Device of participating in Sabbatt, hunt organised, 17 more accused. Magistrate is sceptical and refers case to London- evidence is ?d (use of sleep deprivation); Robinson admits to fraud.
The Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case
1662:
Drury used drum to raise £ for poor, accused of using it to cast spells over houses, investigation supports accusation. Drury deported for theft, disturbances stop immediately. Escapes ship he was on when there were storms.
The Jane Wenham Case
1712
Wise woman, w/rep for being a witch. Falsely accused of bewitching someone, when payment wasn’t enough she cast curse, 16 ppl support different accusations. Judge at trial is sceptical and recommends she is found innocent.
Reginald Scot
‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’
1584:
Questioned whether there was any biblical basis/ foundation for witch hunting
Samuel Harsnett
‘The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel’
1599:
Rejected all witchcraft. Harsnett was deeply suspicious about the Boy of Burton case, claimed Darrel was a fraud
Thomas Ady
‘A Candle in the Dark’
1656:
Witches exist, but don’t have Diabolical Pact, used Bible to support argument, says there’s no reference to witches and hunts. Critical of James I’s book ‘Daemonologie’
John Webster
‘The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft’
1677:
Reinforced Ady’s suggestion that Bible failed to mention witchcraft, argued witches existed but aren’t in control of supernatural- promoted rational/materialistic thinking
Balthasar Bekker
‘The Enchanted World’
1691:
Most influential publisher, built on Ady’s arguments using Bible to undermine argument for witchcraft- believed witchcraft was deception. Published at time when intellectual thinking was changing
Copernicus
‘The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres’
1543:
Right at start of Scientific Revolution, proposed universe was heliocentric (sun at centre, not earth), agreed w/Aristotle that planets moved in perfect circles
Kepler
‘Astronomia Nova’
1609:
I. Planets move in elliptical orbits around sun
II. Planets don’t travel at steady speed, speed up when approaching sun
Galileo
‘Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems’
1632:
Rejected right of church to act as authority on scientific matters, developed a system that fused maths and natural science, went on to inspire later scientists
Isaac Newton
‘Principia Mathematica’
1687:
Important piece of scientific work: mathematically proved Kepler’s law of planetary motion. Able to show centrifugal force, idea that planets are pulled towards gravity of sun, also forms a circular orbit of the planets around the sun
Francis Bacon
‘Proficience and Advancement of Learning’
1605:
Empirical knowledge, learnt from experience and observation is most superior form of knowledge “if men begin with doubts but observe known facts, they will end with certainties”
Thomas Hobbes
‘De Corpore’
1655:
Promoted deductive reasoning over inductive reasoning
- Deductive reasoning: an idea tested to see if true through observation
- Inductive reasoning: idea formed and then worked backward towards generalisations and theories
