Reasons for the decline of belief in Magic (T1)

Question 1

What are the 5 reasons for a decline in the belief of magic?

Answer 1

Fraudulent cases 
Sceptic Publications 
Scientific Revolution 
Human Understanding 
Judicial Scepticism

Question 2

What case happened in 1597?

Answer 2

The Boy of Burton Fraudulent Case

Question 3

When was the The Boy of Burton Fraudulent Case?

Answer 3

1597

Question 4

What happened in the The Boy of Burton Fraudulent Case?

Answer 4

Alice Goodridge is accused of causing hallucinations by Thomas Darling- a doctor confirms this. John Darrell is brought into exorcise Darling (remove the demon). During trial, Darling confesses the case is fraudulent- Darling and Darrell are imprisoned for a year.

Question 5

What case happened in 1634?

Answer 5

The Pendle Swindle Case

Question 6

When was the The Pendle Swindle Case?

Answer 6

1634

Question 7

What happened in the The Pendle Swindle Case?

Answer 7

Edmund Robinson accuses Jennett Device of participating in a Sabbatt, a hunt is organised and 17 more are accused. The magistrate is sceptical and refers the case to London- the evidence is questioned (use of sleep deprivation) and Robinson admits to fraud.

Question 8

What case happened in 1662?

Answer 8

The Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case

Question 9

When was the The Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case?

Answer 9

1662

Question 10

What happened in The Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case?

Answer 10

Drury used a drum to raise money for the poor, he was accused for using it to cast spells over houses, an investigation supports the accusation. Drury is deported for theft, and the disturbances stop immediately. Manages to escape when the ship he was on encounters storms.

Question 11

What case happened in 1712?

Answer 11

The Jane Wenham Case

Question 12

When was the The Jane Wenham Case?

Answer 12

1712

Question 13

What happened in the The Jane Wenham Case?

Answer 13

Jane Wenham was a wise woman, with a reputation for being a witch. She was falsely accused of bewitching someone by his employer, and when her compensation wasn’t enough she cast a curse, 16 people support different accusations. The judge (John Powell) at trial is sceptical about the case, and recommends she is found innocent. However the Jury still find her guilty so Powell secures her a royal pardon.

Question 14

What was published in 1584?

Answer 14

Reginald Scot

The Discoverie of Witchcraft

Question 15

When was Reginald Scot

The Discoverie of Witchcraft published?

Answer 15

1584

Question 16

What was The Discoverie of Witchcraft about?

Answer 16

Questioned whether there was any biblical basis/ foundation for witch hunting

Question 17

What was published in 1599?

Answer 17

Samuel Harsnett

The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel

Question 18

When was Samuel Harsnett

The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel published?

Answer 18

1599

Question 19

What was Samuel Harsnett

The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel about?

Answer 19

Rejected all witchcraft. Harsnett was deeply suspicious about the Boy of Burton case, claimed Darrel was a fraud

Question 20

What was published in 1656?

Answer 20

Thomas Ady

A Candle in the Dark

Question 21

When was Thomas Ady

A Candle in the Dark published?

Answer 21

1656

Question 22

What was Thomas Ady’s

A Candle in the Dark about?

Answer 22

Witches do exist, but they don’t have a pact with the Devil, used the Bible to support his argument, saying there was no reference to witches and hunts. Critical of James I’s book ‘Daemonologie

Question 23

What was published in 1677?

Answer 23

John Webster

The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft

Question 24

When was John Webster

The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft published?

Answer 24

1677

Question 25

What was John Webster | The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft about?

Answer 25

Reinforced Ady’s suggestion that the Bible failed to mention witchcraft, he argued that witches existed but are not in control of the supernatural - promoted rational/ materialistic thinking

Question 26

What was published in 1691?

Answer 26

Balthasar Bekker | The Enchanted World

Question 27

When was Balthasar Bekker | The Enchanted World published?

Answer 27

1691

Question 28

What was Balthasar Bekker | The Enchanted World about?

Answer 28

Most influential publisher, continued to build on Ady’s arguments using the Bible to undermine the argument for witchcraft- believed witchcraft was deception. Published at a time when intellectual thinking was changing

Question 29

What Scientific Revolution happened in 1543?

Answer 29

Copernicus The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres

Question 30

When was Copernicus | The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres?

Answer 30

1543

Question 31

What did Copernicus' The Revolution of Heavenly Spheres Include?

Answer 31

Right at the start of the Scientific Revolution, he proposed the universe was heliocentric (the sun at the centre, not the earth), agreed with Aristotle that planets moved in perfect circles

Question 32

What Scientific Revolution happened in 1609?

Answer 32

Kepler | Astronomia Nova

Question 33

When was Kepler | Astronomia Nova?

Answer 33

1609

Question 34

What did Kepler Astronomia Nova Include?

Answer 34

I. Planet move in elliptical orbits (move in an oval shape) around the sun II. Planets don’t travel at a constant speed, they speed up when approaching the sun

Question 35

What Scientific Revolution happened in 1632?

Answer 35

Galileo Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems

Question 36

When was Galileo Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems?

Answer 36

1632

Question 37

What did Galileo | Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems Include?

Answer 37

Rejected the right of the church to act as an authority on scientific matters, and developed a system that fused maths and natural science, went on to inspire later scientists

Question 38

What Scientific Revolution happened in 1687?

Answer 38

Isaac Newton | Principia Mathematica

Question 39

When was Isaac Newton | Principia Mathematica?

Answer 39

1687

Question 40

What did Isaac Newton | Principia Mathematica Include?

Answer 40

Important piece of scientific work: mathematically proved Kepler’s law of planetary motion. He was able to show centrifugal force, the idea that planets are pulled towards the gravity of the sun, this also forms a circular orbit of the planets around the sun

Question 41

What piece of Human Understanding happened in 1605?

Answer 41

Francis Bacon | Proficience and Advancement of Learning

Question 42

When was Francis Bacon | Proficience and Advancement of Learning?

Answer 42

1605

Question 43

What did Francis Bacon | Proficience and Advancement of Learning include?

Answer 43

Empirical knowledge, learnt from experience and observation is the most superior form of knowledge “if men begin with doubts but observe known facts, they will end with certainties”

Question 44

What piece of Human Understanding happened in 1655?

Answer 44

Thomas Hobbes | De Corpore

Question 45

When was Thomas Hobbes | De Corpore?

Answer 45

1655

Question 46

What did Thomas Hobbes | De Corpore include?

Answer 46

Promoted deductive reasoning over inductive reasoning Deductive reasoning: an idea is tested to see if it's true through observation Inductive reasoning: an idea is formed and then worked backward towards generalizations and theories

Question 47

What piece of Human Understanding happened in | 1658?

Answer 47

Thomas Hobbes | De Homine

Question 48

When was Thomas Hobbes | De Homine?

Answer 48

1658

Question 49

What did Thomas Hobbes | De Homine include?

Answer 49

Materialism: the theory or belief that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.

Question 50

What piece of Human Understanding happened in 1690?

Answer 50

John Locke | Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Question 51

When was John Locke | Essay Concerning Human Understanding?

Answer 51

1690

Question 52

What did John Locke | Essay Concerning Human Understanding include?

Answer 52

1. Humans are born without knowledge 2. Focus on language and importance of words 3. Questioned whether knowledge could be trusted Empiricism is everything, no room for the supernatural Spirits have no primary qualities (things that can’t be argued)

Question 53

When and why did Scepticism begin?

Answer 53

Scepticism began when people started to doubt there was any biblical foundation for witch hunting. In 1584, Reginald Scot wrote the Discoverie of Witchcraft and initially questioned the scriptural foundation for witch hunting. This was developed further by Thomas Ady in 1656.

Question 54

Why did Scepticism continue to grow?

Answer 54

Scepticism continued to grow when certain cases appeared to be supported by fraudulent evidence. The Boy of Burton case in 1597, resulted in the accused dying in prison before the accusers: Darling and Darrel confessed that the case was fraudulent and were imprisoned. This happened again in 1662 during the Demon Drummer of Tedworth case and the last ever witchcraft case: Jane Wenham in 1712.

Question 55

Who was a significant individual when it came to Judicial Scepticism?

Answer 55

Sir John Holt. He presided over 12 witchcraft trials and found all of the accused innocent. He put an emphasis on needing firm proof to sentence. Essentially, he put the accuser on trial.