A Reflection of the Scientific Attitude in English Literature of the Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth Centuries

Abstract

It is of tremendous and outstanding importance, then, vhen any age finds itself slowly but definitely changing not only its thoughts but its manner of thinking from the preceding ages. Such is the case of the seventeenth century in England. Prior to that period the minds of the English were held in one direction, that of authority. To be sure the same was true for the other countries of Europe, but the actual change is not as striking, for it requires tremendous power to move any nation composed prirrarily of painstaking and conscientious Teutons. When such a change is made, the effect is the more pronounced. Indeed it was obvious that any rebirth of learning should deal a staggering blow to authority yet at the time few people could have realized the far reaching effects. For we at this present age feel quite secure in our general plan of reasoning, although we may admit flaws in some of the produced thoughts. But to us any radical change in our method would and does seem quite preposterous. For this reason more than the advances in sciences, the seventeenth century seems of unlimited interest. And as man's words in literature and actions in science give a slight indication of their thoughts, the mental attitude of that age becomes fairly clear. . . . It has been attempted to find not a complete and detailed account of the advance of science during the seventeenth century. Nor has there been an attempt to give a complete study of the reactions or reflections of that scientific spirit in the literature of the time. Rather there has been a hope that by touching a few aspects of this period the spirit of the same age might be gained. [From Conclusion]