Science, Philosophy and Religion in the Age of the Enlightenment: British and Global Contexts (Variorum Collected Studies)

Taking as its focus the wide-ranging character of the Enlightenment, both in geographical and intellectual terms, this second collection of articles by John Gascoigne explores this movement's filiation and influence in a range of contexts. In contrast to some recently influential views it emphasises the evolutionary rather than the revolutionary character of the Enlightenment and its ability to change society by adaptation rather than demolition. This it does by reference, firstly, to developments in Britain tracing the changing views of history in relation to the Biblical account, the ideological uses of science (and particularly the work of Newton) and their connections to developments in moral philosophy and the teaching of science and philosophy in response to Enlightenment modes of thought. The collection then turns to the wider global setting of the Enlightenment and the way in which that movement served to provide a justification for European exploration and expansion, developments which found one of their most potent embodiments in the diverse uses of mapping. The collection concludes with an exploration of the interplay between the experience of Pacific contact and the currents of thought which characterised the Enlightenment in Germany. Cover 1 Series 3 Half Title 4 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Introduction 10 Acknowledgements 13 I ‘The wisdom of the Egyptians’ and the secularisation of history in the age of Newton 14 II From Bentley to the Victorians: the rise and fall of British Newtonian natural theology 56 III Sensible Newtonians: Nicholas Saunderson and John Colson 94 IV Science, religion and the foundations of morality in Enlightenment Britain 128 V The teaching of philosophy within the British universities and learned societies of the eighteenth century 150 VI Motives for European exploration of the Pacific in the age of the Enlightenment 214 VII Joseph Banks, mapping and the geographies of natural knowledge 226 VIII Blumenbach, Banks, and the beginnings of anthropology at Göttingen 249 IX The German Enlightenment and the Pacific 262 X The Royal Society, natural history and the peoples of the ‘New World(s)’, 1660-1800 300 Index 324 02.01 history of science and culture; 1700-1799; Aufklärung; Culture diffusion; Culture diffusion Europe History 18th century; Diffusion culturelle Europe Histoire 18e siècle; Discoveries in geography European; Discoveries in geography European History 18th century; Discoveries in geography,European History 18th century; Enlightenment; Enlightenment (cultural history); Enlightenment Great Britain; Europe; Geistesgeschichte; Grande-Bretagne Vie intellectuelle 18e siècle; Great Britain; Great Britain Intellectual life 18th century; Großbritannien; History; Influence (Literary,artistic,etc); Intellectual life; Newton,Isaac,1642-1727; Newton,Isaac,1642-1727 Influence; Newton,Isaac,1643-1727; Philosophy and religion; Philosophy and religion Great Britain History 18th century; Science; Science Great Britain History 18th century; Sciences Grande-Bretagne Histoire 18e siècle; Siècle des Lumières Grande-Bretagne 02.01 history of science and culture,1700-1799,Aufklärung,Culture diffusion,Culture diffusion Europe History 18th century,Diffusion culturelle Europe Histoire 18e siècle,Discoveries in geography European,Discoveries in geography European History 18th century,Discoveries in geography,European History 18th century,Enlightenment,Enlightenment (cultural history),Enlightenment Great Britain,Europe,Geistesgeschichte,Grande-Bretagne Vie intellectuelle 18e siècle,Great Britain,Great Britain Intellectual life 18th century,Großbritannien,History,Influence (Literary,artistic,etc),Intellectual life,Newton,Isaac,1642-1727,Newton,Isaac,1642-1727 Influence,Newton,Isaac,1643-1727,Philosophy and religion,Philosophy and religion Great Britain History 18th century,Science,Science Great Britain History 18th century,Sciences Grande-Bretagne Histoire 18e siècle,Siècle des Lumières Grande-Bretagne Taking as its focus the wide-ranging character of the Enlightenment, both in geographical and intellectual terms, this second collection of articles by John Gascoigne explores this movement's filiation and influence in a range of contexts. In contrast to some recently influential views it emphasises the evolutionary rather than the revolutionary character of the Enlightenment and its ability to change society by adaptation rather than demolition. This it does by reference, firstly, to developments in Britain tracing the changing views of history in relation to the Biblical account, the ideological uses of science (and particularly the work of Newton) and their connections to developments in moral philosophy and the teaching of science and philosophy in response to Enlightenment modes of thought. The collection then turns to the wider global setting of the Enlightenment and the way in which that movement served to provide a justification for European exploration and expansion, developments which found one of their most potent embodiments in the diverse uses of mapping. The collection concludes with an exploration of the interplay between the experience of Pacific contact and the currents of thought which characterised the Enlightenment in Germany. Cover 1 Series 3 Half Title 4 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Introduction 10 Acknowledgements 13 I ‘The wisdom of the Egyptians’ and the secularisation of history in the age of Newton 14 II From Bentley to the Victorians: the rise and fall of British Newtonian natural theology 56 III Sensible Newtonians: Nicholas Saunderson and John Colson 94 IV Science, religion and the foundations of morality in Enlightenment Britain 128 V The teaching of philosophy within the British universities and learned societies of the eighteenth century 150 VI Motives for European exploration of the Pacific in the age of the Enlightenment 214 VII Joseph Banks, mapping and the geographies of natural knowledge 226 VIII Blumenbach, Banks, and the beginnings of anthropology at Göttingen 249 IX The German Enlightenment and the Pacific 262 X The Royal Society, natural history and the peoples of the ‘New World(s)’, 1660-1800 300 Index 324 02.01 history of science and culture; 1700-1799; Aufklärung; Culture diffusion; Culture diffusion Europe History 18th century; Diffusion culturelle Europe Histoire 18e siècle; Discoveries in geography European; Discoveries in geography European History 18th century; Discoveries in geography,European History 18th century; Enlightenment; Enlightenment (cultural history); Enlightenment Great Britain; Europe; Geistesgeschichte; Grande-Bretagne Vie intellectuelle 18e siècle; Great Britain; Great Britain Intellectual life 18th century; Großbritannien; History; Influence (Literary,artistic,etc); Intellectual life; Newton,Isaac,1642-1727; Newton,Isaac,1642-1727 Influence; Newton,Isaac,1643-1727; Philosophy and religion; Philosophy and religion Great Britain History 18th century; Science; Science Great Britain History 18th century; Sciences Grande-Bretagne Histoire 18e siècle; Siècle des Lumières Grande-Bretagne 02.01 history of science and culture,1700-1799,Aufklärung,Culture diffusion,Culture diffusion Europe History 18th century,Diffusion culturelle Europe Histoire 18e siècle,Discoveries in geography European,Discoveries in geography European History 18th century,Discoveries in geography,European History 18th century,Enlightenment,Enlightenment (cultural history),Enlightenment Great Britain,Europe,Geistesgeschichte,Grande-Bretagne Vie intellectuelle 18e siècle,Great Britain,Great Britain Intellectual life 18th century,Großbritannien,History,Influence (Literary,artistic,etc),Intellectual life,Newton,Isaac,1642-1727,Newton,Isaac,1642-1727 Influence,Newton,Isaac,1643-1727,Philosophy and religion,Philosophy and religion Great Britain History 18th century,Science,Science Great Britain History 18th century,Sciences Grande-Bretagne Histoire 18e siècle,Siècle des Lumières Grande-Bretagne Introduction -- The Wisdom Of The Egyptians And The Secularisation Of History In The Age Of Newton -- From Bentley To The Victorians : The Rise And Fall Of British Newtonian Natural Theology -- Sensible Newtonians : Nicholas Saunderson And John Colson -- Science, Religion And The Foundations Of Morality In Enlightenment Britain -- The Teaching Of Philosophy Within The British Universities And Learned Societies Of The Eighteenth Century -- Motives For European Exploration Of The Pacific In The Age Of The Enlightenment -- Joseph Banks, Mapping And The Geographies Of Natural Knowledge -- Blumenbach, Banks, And The Beginnings Of Anthropology At Göttingen -- The German Enlightenment And The Pacific -- The Royal Society, Natural History And The Peoples Of The New World(s), 1660-1800. John Gascoigne. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Taking as its focus the wide-ranging character of the Enlightenment, both in geographical and intellectual terms, this collection of articles explores this movement's filiation and influence in a range of contexts. The book emphasizes the evolutionary rather than the revolutionary character of the Enlightenment