The Intellectual Revolution of the Seventeenth Century (Routledge Revivals) [Paperback]

Intellectual history and early modern history have always occupied an important place in Past and Present. First published in 1974, this volume is a collection of original articles and debates, published in the journal between 1953 and May 1973, dealing with many aspects of the intellectual history of the seventeenth century. Several of the contributions have been extremely influential, and the debates represent major standpoints in controversies over genesis of modern ideas.

Although England is the focus of attention for most of the contributors, their themes have wider significance. Among the topics covered in the collection are the political thought of the Levellers and of James Harrington; radical social movements of the Puritan Revolution; the ideological context of physiological theories associated with William Harvey; the relationship between science and religion and the social relations of science; and the function of millenariansim and eschatology in the seventeenth century. The editors Introduction indicates the context in which the articles were composed and provides valuable bibliographical information about the subjects discussed.

1. Introduction (Charles Website, Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford) 2. Harringtons Opportunity State (C. B. Macpherson, University of Toronto) 3. Harrington, a Realist? (John F. H. New, University of Waterloo) 4. Harrington as Realist: A Rejoinder (C. B. Macpherson, University of Toronto) 5. The Meaning of Harringtons Agrarian (John F. H. New, University of Waterloo) 6. The Levellers and the Democracy (J.C. Davis, Victoria University of Wellington) 7. Reconsidering the Levellers: The Evidence of the Moderate (Roger Howell Jr, Bowdoin College, Brunswick and David E. Brewster, Falls Church, Virginia) 8. Gentlemen Levellers (G.E. Aylmer, University of York) 9. Englands Spirit Unfolded, or an Incouragement to Take the Engagement: A Newlyls8