A Discourse Of Free-Thinking: Occasion'D By The Rise And Growth Of A Sect Call'D Free-Thinkers - Softcover

Anthony Collins

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0461783614 ISBN 13: 9780461783612

Publisher: HardPress, 2021

Synopsis

A Discourse Of Free-Thinking: Occasion’D By The Rise And Growth Of A Sect Call'D Free-Thinkers by Anthony Collins. This polemical treatise argues for the right and usefulness of free-thinking, asserting that genuine knowledge and scientific progress depend on independent use of the understanding and examination of evidence. Collins defines Free-Thinking as the use of reason to determine the meaning of propositions and to judge evidence, and argues that any restraint on thinking undermines the sciences, morality, and social progress. He compares free thinking to the liberty enjoyed in the arts, and uses examples from ancient philosophers and biblical interpretation to show that dogmatic authority and unexamined belief generate superstition, sectarian conflict, and tyranny. The work surveys objections—such as the fear of atheism, social disorder, clerical control, or the mutability of scripture—and offers counterarguments. He highlights the proliferation of sects, the imperfections of church governance, and the need for toleration and rational inquiry as the cornerstone of a humane society. With examples from Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, and Cicero, he argues that free-thinking is essential for truth and human flourishing.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0461783614
• ISBN 13: 9780461783612
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200