Early Modern Skepticism and the Origins of TolerationAlan Levine This collection of original essays by the nation's leading political theorists examines the origins of modernity and considers the question of tolerance as a product of early modern religious skepticism. Rather than approaching the problem through a purely historical lens, the authors actively demonstrate the significance of these issues to contemporary debates in political philosophy and public policy. The contributors to Early Modern Skepticism raise and address questions of the utmost significance: Is religious faith necessary for ethical behavior? Is skepticism a fruitful ground from which to argue for toleration? This book will be of interest to historians, philosophers, religious scholars, and political theorists--anyone concerned about the tensions between private beliefs and public behavior. |
Contents
Introduction The Prehistory of Toleration and Varieties of Skepticism | 1 |
Through a Glass Darkly Luther and Calvin and the Limits of Reason | 21 |
Skepticism Self and Toleration in Montaignes Political Thought | 51 |
French FreeThinkers in the First Decades of the Edict of Nantes | 77 |
Descartes and the Question of Toleration | 103 |
Toleration and the Skepticism of Religion in Spinozas Tractatus TheologicoPoliticus | 127 |
Monopolizing Faith The Levellers Rights and Religious Toleration | 147 |
Skepticism and Toleration in Hobbes Political Thought | 165 |
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argues argument for toleration atheist Augustine authority Bayle's believe Bodin Calvin Catholic century charity Charron Christ Christian Church civil claims conscience Descartes Dictionnaire philosophique Diderot divine doctrine Early Modern Enlightenment Essay eternal evil existence faith fear fideist freedom God's Hobbes Huguenot human reason idea individual Institutes intellectual intolerance Jean Bodin John Locke judgment justice knowledge Leibniz liberal liberty live Locke Locke's Luther Marie de Gournay matters metaphysical Michel de Montaigne mind Montaigne Montaigne's Montesquieu moral natural Naudé O.D. III one's opinions pagan Paris passions persecution philosophers Pierre Bayle Pierre Charron political possible practice prince principles Pyrrhonist question radical rational religion revealed Richard Popkin salvation Scripture sects skepticism and toleration society soul sovereign Spinoza Spirit theology things thinkers thought Tractatus trans Treatises true truth understanding virtue Voetius Voltaire Walwyn