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...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2018
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In: |
Aries
Year: 2018, Volume: 18, Issue: 1, Pages: 54-74 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Böhme, Jakob 1575-1624
/ Reception
/ More, Henry 1614-1687
/ Platonism
/ Spinoza, Benedictus de 1632-1677
/ Determinism
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RelBib 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
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Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
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. |
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ISSN: | 1570-0593 |
Contains: | In: Aries
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700593-01801004 |