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CHAPTER VI.
APPROACH OF THE AGE OF REASON IN EUROPE.
IT IS PRECEDED BY THE RISE OF CRITICISM.
Restoration of Greek Literature and Philosophy in Italy.-Development
of Modern Languages and Rise of Criticism.-Imminent Danger to
Latin Ideas.
Invention of Printing.—It revolutionizes the Communication of Know-
ledge, especially acts on Public Worship, and renders the Pulpit
secondary.
THE REFORMATION.—Theory of Supererogation and Use of Indulgences.
-The Right of Individual Judgment asserted.-Political History of
the Origin, Culmination, and Check of the Reformation.—Its Effects
in Italy.
Causes of the Arrest of the Reformation.—Internal Causes in Protes-
tantism.-External in the Policy of Rome.-The Counter-Reformation.
-Inquisition.-Jesuits.-Secession of the great Critics.—Culmination
of the Reformation in America.—Emergence of Individual Liberty of
Thought.
Page 190
CHAPTER VII.
DIGRESSION ON THE CONDITION OF ENGLAND AT THE END OF THE AGE
OF FAITH.
RESULTS PRODUCED BY THE AGE OF FAITH.
Condition of England at the Suppression of the Monasteries.
Condition of England at the close of the seventeenth Century.-Locomo-
tion, Literature, Libraries.-Social and private Life of the Laity and
Clergy.-Brutality in the Administration of Law.- Profligacy of
Literature.-The Theatre, its three Phases.-Miracle, Moral, and
Real Plays.
Estimate of the Advance made in the Age of Faith.-Comparison with
that already made in the Age of Reason
229
CHAPTER VIII.
THE EUROPEAN AGE OF REASON.
REJECTION OF AUTHORITY AND TRADITION, AND ADOPTION OF SCIENTIFIC TRUTH.---
DISCOVERY OF THE TRUE POSITION OF THE EARTH IN THE UNIVERSE.
Ecclesiastical Attempt to enforce the GEOCENTRIC DOCTRINE that the
Earth is the Centre of the Universe, and the most important Body
in it.
The HELIOCENTRIC DOCTRINE that the Sun is the Centre of the Solar
System, and the Earth a small Planet, comes gradually into
Prominence.
Struggle between the Ecclesiastical and Astronomical Parties.—Activity
of the Inquisition.—Burning of BRUNO.—Imprisonment of GALILEO.
INVENTION OF THE TELESCOPE.-Complete Overthrow of the Ecclesiastical
Idea.-Rise of Physical Astronomy.-NEWTON.-Rapid and resistless
Development of all Branches of Natural Philosophy.
Final Establishment of the Doctrine that the Universe is under the Do-
minion of mathematical, and, therefore, necessary Laws.
Progress of Man from Anthropocentric Ideas to the Discovery of his
true Position and Insignificance in the Universe.
Page 252
CHAPTER IX.
THE EUROPEAN AGE OF REASON—(Continued).
HISTORY OF THE EARTH.-HER SUCCESSIVE CHANGES IN THE COURSE OF TIME.
Oriental and Occidental Doctrines respecting the Earth in Time.-
Gradual Weakening of the latter by astronomical Facts, and the Rise
of Scientific Geology.
Impersonal Manner in which the Problem was eventually solved, chiefly
through Facts connected with Heat.
Proofs of limitless Duration from inorganic Facts.-Igneous and Aqueous
Rocks.
Proofs of the same from organic Facts.-Successive Creations and Ex-
tinctions of living Forms, and their contemporaneous Distribution.
Evidences of a slowly declining Temperature, and, therefore, of a long
Time.-The Process of Events by Catastrophe and by Law.—Analogy
of Individual and Race Development.-Both are determined by
unchangeable Law.
Conclusion that the Plan of the Universe indicates a Multiplicity of
Worlds in infinite Space, and a Succession of Worlds in infinite
Time Page 294
CHAPTER X.
THE NATURE AND RELATIONS OF MAN.
Position of Man according to the Heliocentric and Geocentric Theories.
OF ANIMAL LIFE.-The transitory Nature of living Forms.-Relations
of Plants and Animals—Animals are Aggregates of Matter expending
Force originally derived from the Sun.
THE ORGANIC SERIES.-Man a Member of it.-His Position determined
by Anatomical and Physiological Investigation of his Nervous System.—
Its triple Form: Automatic, Instinctive, Intellectual.
The same progressive Development is seen in individual Man, in the
entire animal Series, and in the Life of the Globe.—They are all under
the Control of an eternal, universal, irresistible Law.
The Aim of Nature is intellectual Development, and human Institutions
must conform thereto.
Summary of the Investigation of the Position of Man.-Production of
Inorganic and Organic Forms by the Sun.-Nature of Animals and
their Series.-Analogies and Differences between them and Man.—The
Soul.-The World 337
CHAPTER XI.
THE EUROPEAN AGE OF REASON-(Continued).
THE UNION OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
European Progress in the Acquisition of exact Knowledge.—Its Resem-
blance to that of Greece.
Discoveries respecting the Air.-Its mechanical and chemical Properties.
-Its Relation to Animals and Plants.-The Winds.-Meteorology.---
Sounds.-Acoustic Phenomena.
Discoveries respecting the Ocean.-Physical and chemical Phenomena.—
Tides and Currents.-Clouds.- Decomposition of Water.
Discoveries respecting other material Substances.—Progress of Chemistry.
Discoveries respecting Electricity, Magnetism, Light, Heat.
Mechanical Philosophy and Inventions—Physical Instruments.—The
Result illustrated by the Cotton Manufacture—Steam-engine—Bleach-
ing-Canals-Railways.-Improvements in the Construction of Ma-
chinery.-Social Changes produced.—Its Effect on intellectual Activity.
The scientific Contributions of various Nations, and especially of
Italy Page 366
CHAPTER XII.
CONCLUSION-THE FUTURE OF EUROPE.
Summary of the Argument presented in this Book respecting the mental
Progress of Europe.
Intellectual Development is the Object of Individual Life.—It is also the
Result of social Progress.
Nations arriving at Maturity instinctively attempt their own intellectual
Organization.-Example of the Manner in which this has been done in
China.-Its Imperfection.-What it has accomplished.
The Organization of public Intellect is the End to which European
Civilization is tending
392