Volume 1

The History of the Royal Society, with memoirs of the Presidents / compiled from authentic documents by Charles Richard Weld.

  • Weld, Charles Richard, 1813-1869.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The History of the Royal Society, with memoirs of the Presidents / compiled from authentic documents by Charles Richard Weld. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    superstition, that hung over Europe from the decline of the Roman Empire. The long interval, from the overthrow of Roman civilization to the fourteenth century, is mainly cha- racterized by the absolute reign of ecclesiastical authority. In common with all earthly powers, Philo- sophy was compelled to bow before the altar of Church despotism, and was solely employed in the defence of a subtile and mystical theology. It was an offence says Dr. Whewell, against religion as well as reason, to reject the truth ; and the truth could be but one. In this manner arose that claim, which the doctors of the Church put forth, to control men's opinions upon all subjects\ Ten- nemann, in his GescMchte der PhilosopMe, mentions a papal rescript, admonishing the members of an university to be content with the landmarks of science already fixed by their fathers, to have due fear of the curse pronounced against him who re- moveth his neighbour's landmark, and not to incur the blame of innovation or presumption. The Italians in the thirteenth century, remarks Professor Ranke, manifested a grand tendency to- wards searching investigation, intrepid pursuit of truth, noble aspirations, and high prophetic visions of discovery. Who shall say whither this tendency would have led ? But the Church marked out a line which they were not to overstep,—woe to him who ventured to pass it''! Barlaam, a Calabrian monk, and afterwards Bishop of Locri, had considerab le influence in reviving a • Phil. Ind. Sc., Vol. II. p. 151. » Vol. VIII. p. 461. » Hist, of the Popes, Vol. i. p. 502.