Censuring the Teutonic Philosopher?

This essay examines Henry More’s engagement with Jacob Böhme and compares the sympathetic critique of Böhme with More’s much more negative evaluation of Spinoza. More directs his criticism of Böhme at the similarities between Spinoza and Böhme: their materialism and confusion of God and world. The p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aries
Main Author: Hedley, Douglas 1961- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2018
In: Aries
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Böhme, Jakob 1575-1624 / Reception / More, Henry 1614-1687 / Platonism / Spinoza, Benedictus de 1632-1677 / Determinism
IxTheo Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AZ New religious movements
KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
TJ Modern history
Further subjects:B Henry More Jacob Böhme Cambridge Platonists Spinoza metaphysics Platonic theology
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:This essay examines Henry More’s engagement with Jacob Böhme and compares the sympathetic critique of Böhme with More’s much more negative evaluation of Spinoza. More directs his criticism of Böhme at the similarities between Spinoza and Böhme: their materialism and confusion of God and world. The present essay suggests, however, that the perception of shared Platonism informs More’s more favourable approach to the Silesian. The problem of what “Platonism” means in this context is thus also addressed. Böhme’s writings were valued by More because of a shared metaphysics that rejected both radical dualism and pantheism, and the Platonic theology of the goodness of God and the freedom of man, together with the rejection of predestination. Spinoza, on the other hand, is rejected because of his radical determinism, his denial of any substantial distinction between good and evil, and the transcendent being of the divine.
ISSN:1570-0593
Contains:In: Aries
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700593-01801004