Richard Baxter and the Mechanical Philosophers (Oxford Studies in Historical Theology)

Richard Baxter, one of the most famous Puritans of the seventeenth century, is generally known as a writer of practical and devotional literature. But he also excelled in knowledge of medieval and early modern scholastic theology, and was conversant with a wide variety of seventeenth-century philosophies. Baxter was among the early English polemicists who wrote against the mechanical philosophy of René Descartes and Pierre Gassendi in the years immediately following the establishment of the Royal Society. At the same time, he was friends with Robert Boyle and Matthew Hale, corresponded with Joseph Glanvill, and engaged in philosophical controversy with Henry More. In this book, David Sytsma presents a chronological and thematic account of Baxter's relation to the people and concepts involved in the rise of mechanical philosophy in late-seventeenth-century England. Drawing on largely unexamined works, including Baxter's Methodus Theologiae Christianae (1681) and manuscript treatises and correspondence, Sytsma discusses Baxter's response to mechanical philosophers on the nature of substance, laws of motion, the soul, and ethics. Analysis of these topics is framed by a consideration of the growth of Christian Epicureanism in England, Baxter's overall approach to reason and philosophy, and his attempt to understand creation as an analogical reflection of God's power, wisdom, and goodness, or vestigia Trinitatis . Baxter's views on reason, analogical knowledge of God, and vestigia Trinitatis draw on medieval precedents and directly inform a largely hostile, though partially accommodating, response to mechanical philosophy. Richard Baxter, One Of The Most Famous Puritans Of The Seventeenth Century, Is Generally Known As A Writer Of Practical And Devotional Literature. But He Also Excelled In Knowledge Of Medieval And Early Modern Scholastic Theology, And Was Conversant With A Wide Variety Of Seventeenth-century Philosophies. Baxter Was Among The Early English Polemicists Who Wrote Against The Mechanical Philosophy Of Rene Descartes And Pierre Gassendi In The Years Immediately Following The Establishment Of The Royal Society. At The Same Time, He Was Friends With Robert Boyle And Matthew Hale, Corresponded With Joseph Glanvill, And Engaged In Philosophical Controversy With Henry More. In This Book, David Sytsma Presents A Chronological And Thematic Account Of Baxter's Relation To The People And Concepts Involved In The Rise Of Mechanical Philosophy In Late-seventeenth-century England. Drawing On Largely Unexamined Works, Including Baxter's Methodus Theologiae Christianae (1681) And Manuscript Treatises And Correspondence, Sytsma Discusses Baxter's Response To Mechanical Philosophers On The Nature Of Substance, Laws Of Motion, The Soul, And Ethics. Analysis Of These Topics Is Framed By A Consideration Of The Growth Of Christian Epicureanism In England, Baxter's Overall Approach To Reason And Philosophy, And His Attempt To Understand Creation As An Analogical Reflection Of God's Power, Wisdom, And Goodness, Or Vestigia Trinitatis. Baxter's Views On Reason, Analogical Knowledge Of God, And Vestigia Trinitatis Draw On Medieval Precedents And Directly Inform A Largely Hostile, Though Partially Accommodating, Response To Mechanical Philosophy. Richard Baxter As Philosophical Theologian -- Baxter And The Rise Of Mechanical Philosophy -- Reason And Philosophy -- A Trinitrian Natural Philosophy -- A Commotion Over Motion -- The Incipient Materialism Of Mechanical Philosophy -- From Epicurean Physics To Ethics. David S. Sytsma. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Half-title 2 Series 3 Richard Baxter and the Mechanical Philosophers 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations 12 1. Richard Baxter as Philosophical Theologian 16 2. Baxter and the Rise of Mechanical Philosophy 37 The Reception of Gassendi’s Christian Epicureanism in England 41 Baxter’s Early Response to Hobbes’s Leviathan 59 The Beginning of Baxter’s Restoration Polemics 62 Matthew Hale and the Growth of Baxter’s Polemics 72 On the “Epicurean” Ethics of Hobbes and Spinoza 77 Baxter and Henry More 79 Conclusion 84 3. Reason and Philosophy 86 Works on Reason 90 The Nature and States of Reason 92 Reason and Will 96 Reason in the State of Sin 99 Reason and Revelation 107 The Use of and Limits of Philosophy 113 Conclusion 118 4. A Trinitarian Natural Philosophy 120 Theological Motivations 121 God’s Two Books 121 Mosaic Physics 127 Vestigia Trinitatis 133 Trinitarian Analogy of Being 142 Trinities in Nature 149 Baxter’s Eclectic Reception of Tommaso Campanella 149 Threefold Causality 151 Passive Nature 155 Active Nature 159 Conclusion 165 5. A Commotion over Motion 166 Copernicanism 169 The Nature of Motion 173 Substantial Form 178 Descartes’s Laws of Motion 191 Henry More’s “Mixt Mechanicall Philosophy” 198 Conclusion 203 6. The Incipient Materialism of Mechanical Philosophy 205 Mechanical Philosophy and the Immaterial Soul 206 Henry More’s “Slippery Ground” and Pierre Gassendi’s “Feeble” Proofs 211 Pierre Gassendi, Thomas Willis, and the Material Soul 217 Conclusion 229 7. From “Epicurean” Physics to Ethics 231 Baxter and Reformed Natural Law Theory 234 The Specter of Necessitarianism 248 The Problem of Naturalistic Natural Law 254 Conclusion 262 8. Conclusion 264 APPENDIX A: Chronology of Baxter’s Post-​Restoration Writings on Philosophy 274 APPENDIX B: Richard Baxter to Joseph Glanvill, 18 November 1670 278 APPENDIX C: Richard Baxter on Thomas Willis, De anima brutorum (1672) 281 Bibliography 302 Index 348 Content: Cover Half-title Series Richard Baxter and the Mechanical Philosophers Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Abbreviations 1. Richard Baxter as Philosophical Theologian 2. Baxter and the Rise of Mechanical Philosophy The Reception of Gassendi's Christian Epicureanism in England Baxter's Early Response to Hobbes's Leviathan The Beginning of Baxter's Restoration Polemics Matthew Hale and the Growth of Baxter's Polemics On the "Epicurean" Ethics of Hobbes and Spinoza Baxter and Henry More Conclusion 3. Reason and Philosophy Works on Reason The Nature and States of Reason Reason and WillReason in the State of Sin Reason and Revelation The Use of and Limits of Philosophy Conclusion 4. A Trinitarian Natural Philosophy Theological Motivations God's Two Books Mosaic Physics Vestigia Trinitatis Trinitarian Analogy of Being Trinities in Nature Baxter's Eclectic Reception of Tommaso Campanella Threefold Causality Passive Nature Active Nature Conclusion 5. A Commotion over Motion Copernicanism The Nature of Motion Substantial Form Descartes's Laws of Motion Henry More's "Mixt Mechanicall Philosophy" Conclusion 6. The Incipient Materialism of Mechanical PhilosophyMechanical Philosophy and the Immaterial Soul Henry More's "Slippery Ground" and Pierre Gassendi's "Feeble" Proofs Pierre Gassendi, Thomas Willis, and the Material Soul Conclusion 7. From "Epicurean" Physics to Ethics Baxter and Reformed Natural Law Theory The Specter of Necessitarianism The Problem of Naturalistic Natural Law Conclusion 8. Conclusion APPENDIX A: Chronology of Baxter's Post-Restoration Writings on Philosophy APPENDIX B: Richard Baxter to Joseph Glanvill, 18 November 1670 APPENDIX C: Richard Baxter on Thomas Willis, De anima brutorum (1672)Bibliography Index Richard Baxter, one of the most famous Puritans of the seventeenth century, is generally known as a writer of practical and devotional literature. But he also excelled in knowledge of medieval and early modern scholastic theology, and was conversant with a wide variety of seventeenth-century philosophies. Baxter was among the early English polemicists to write against the mechanical philosophy of René Descartes and Pierre Gassendi in the years immediately following the establishment of the Royal Society. At the same time, he was friends with Robert Boyle and Matthew Hale, corresponded with Joseph Glanvill, and engaged in philosophical controversy with Henry More. This book is a chronological and thematic account of Baxter’s relation to the people and concepts involved in the rise of mechanical philosophy in late seventeenth-century England. Drawing on largely unexamined works, including Baxter’s Methodus theologiae christianae (1681) and manuscript treatises and correspondence, this book discusses Baxter’s response to mechanical philosophers on the nature of substance, laws of motion, the soul, and ethics. Analysis of these topics is framed by a consideration of the growth of Christian Epicureanism in England, Baxter’s overall approach to reason and philosophy, and his attempt to understand creation as an analogical reflection of God’s power, wisdom, and goodness, understood as vestigia Trinitatis. Baxter’s views on reason, analogical knowledge of God, and vestigia Trinitatis draw on medieval precedents and directly inform a largely hostile, though partially accommodating, response to mechanical philosophy. Richard Baxter, one of the seventeenth century's most famous Puritans, is known as an author of devotional literature. But he was also skilled in medieval philosophy. In this book, David Sytsma draws on largely unexamined works to present a chronological and thematic account of Baxter's relation to the people and concepts involved in the rise of mechanical philosophy in late-seventeenth-century England Richard Baxter, one of the 17th century's most famous Puritans, is known as an author of devotional literature. But he was also skilled in medieval philosophy. In this work, David Sytsma draws on largely unexamined works to present a chronogolical and thematic account of Baxter's relation to the people and concepts involved in the rise of mechanical philosophy in late-17th-century England