Human Understanding

Question 1

1662

How did Gresham College and Royal Society change WC belief?

Answer 1

• Impacted Universities - astronomy & geometry not recognised by Oxbridge until Gresham
• Promoted academic importance of mathematics
• RS focused on critical investigation - undermined belief in WC
• RS second chance for religious nonconformists
• RS established reputation for pushing boundaries of science
• RS helped publish work by Newton and Locke

Question 2

1605

Francis Bacon: Proficience and Advancement of Learning

Answer 2

• Empiricism: experiencing something through senses is predominant focus of expanding knowledge - knowledge of nature depends on observations of natural phenomena
• Inductive Thought: observing something and forming conclusion based on what is observed

Question 3

Impact of Francis Bacon

Answer 3

• Noticeable change in acceptance of evidence from shortly before to after
• Heneage Finch convicts on ‘hard’ evidence
• Suggests slight change in attitudes towards requirements for guilt across all levels of judiciary

Question 4

1655 & 1958

Thomas Hobbes: De Corpore & De Homine

Answer 4

• Materialism: everything is created by matter and all observed events are result of matter acting on matter - concepts such as the soul and WC should be questioned
• Deductive Thought: Application of existing rules, testing of prepositions, use of preconceived thories with facts collected to prove theory

Question 5

Impact of Thomas Hobbes

Answer 5

• Judiciary more aware of logic and rationality
• Joan Buts acquittal due to lack of proof - indicates that spread of ideas was increasing
• A shift towards finding false accusers guilty - Sir John Holt, first time someone found guilty of false accusations

Question 6

1690

John Locke: Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Answer 6

• Humans are born without knowledge
• Focus on language and importance of words
• Questioned whether knowledge could be trusted
• Empiricism is everything, no room for the supernatural
• Spirits have no primary qualities

Question 7

Impact of John Locke

Answer 7

• Made no allowance for the supernatural due to strength of belief in materialism and empiricism
• Did not say spirits didn’t exist, instead he had not experienced them so he couldn’t say they did
• Locke’s denial of innate ideas was interpreted by some contemporaries as heresy