A SHORT HISTORY
OF
FREETHOUGHT
Title: A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 1 of 2
Author: J. M. Robertson
Release date: April 19, 2016 [eBook #51793]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project
Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously
made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
VOLUME I
PAGE
Preface xi
Chap. I—Introductory
| § 1. | Origin and Meaning of the word Freethought | 1 | ||||||
| § 2. | Previous histories | 10 | ||||||
| § 3. | The Psychology of Freethinking | 15 | ||||||
Chap. II—Primitive Freethinking 22
Chap. III—Progress under Ancient Religions
| § 1. | Early Association and Competition of Cults | 44 | ||||||
| § 2. | The Process in India | 48 | ||||||
| § 3. | Mesopotamia | 61 | ||||||
| § 4. | Ancient Persia | 65 | ||||||
| § 5. | Egypt | 69 | ||||||
| § 6. | Phoenicia | 78 | ||||||
| § 7. | Ancient China | 82 | ||||||
| § 8. | Mexico and Peru | 88 | ||||||
| § 9. | The Common Forces of Degeneration | 91 | ||||||
Chap. IV—Relative Freethought in Israel
| § 1. | The Early Hebrews | 97 | ||||||
| § 2. | The manipulated prophetic literature | 104 | ||||||
| § 3. | The Post-Exilic Literature | 109 | ||||||
Chap. V—Freethought in Greece 120
Chap. VI—Freethought in ancient Rome
| § 1. | Culture Beginnings, to Ennius and the Greeks | 194 | ||||||
| § 2. | Lucretius, Cicero, Cæsar | 201 | ||||||
| § 3. | Decline under the Empire | 207 | ||||||
| § 4. | The higher Pagan ethics | 215 | ||||||
Chap. VII—Ancient Christianity and its Opponents
Chap. VIII—Freethought under Islam
Chap. IX—Christendom in the Middle Ages 277
Chap. X—Freethought in the Renaissance
Chap. XI—The Reformation Politically Considered
Chap. XII—The Reformation and Freethought
Chap. XIII.—The Rise of Modern Freethought
This, the third edition, represents a considerable expansion of the second (1906), which in its turn was a considerable expansion of the first (1899). The book now somewhat approximates, in point of fullness, to the modest ideal aimed at. Anything much fuller would cease to be a “Short History.”
The process of revision, carried on since the last issue, has, I hope, meant some further advance towards correctness, and some improvement in arrangement—a particularly difficult matter in such a book. As before, the many critical excursus have been so printed that they may be recognized and skipped by those readers who care to follow only the narrative. The chapter on the nineteenth century, though much expanded, like those on the eighteenth, remains, I fear, open to objection on the score of scantiness. I can only plead that the ample and excellent work of Mr. A. W. Benn has now substantially met the need for a fuller survey of that period.
It is fitting that I should acknowledge the generous critical reception given by most reviewers to the previous editions of a book which, breaking as it did new ground, lacked the gain from previous example that accrues to most historical writing. My many debts to historians of culture are, I trust, indicated in the notes; but I have to repeat my former acknowledgments as to the Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of my dead friend, J. M. Wheeler, inasmuch as the aid I have had from his manifold research does not thus appear on the surface.
It remains to add my thanks to a number of friendly correspondents who have assisted me by pointing out shortcomings and errors. Further assistance of the same kind will be gratefully welcomed. It is still my hope that the book may help some more leisured student in the construction of a more massive record of the development of rational thought on the side of human life with which it deals.
An apology is perhaps due to the purchasers of the second edition, which is now superseded by a fuller record. I can but plead that I have been unable otherwise to serve their need; and express a hope that the low price of the present edition will be a compensation.
J. M. R.