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Scepsis scientifica: or, confest ignorance, the way to science; in an essay of the vanity of dogmatizing, and confident opinion / With a reply to the exceptions of the learned Thomas Albius [i.e. pseud. of Thomas White].

  • Glanvill, Joseph, 1636-1680
Date:
1665
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Scepsis scientifica: or, confest ignorance, the way to science; in an essay of the vanity of dogmatizing, and confident opinion / With a reply to the exceptions of the learned Thomas Albius [i.e. pseud. of Thomas White]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pardon young pens may expect from thofe who are not un- reafonably fevere, hath a claim to your candour upon o- ther confiderations , which] intend this Paper fhall acquaint you, that twas no enmity to the learning of the Univerfi. ties, which with all duty l acknowledge, that drew my pen upon the Sage their conftitutions have made textuary. You know me too well, to think I defigned any thing againft the appointments and purpofes of our pious Anceftors in thofe venerable nurferies of Pitty and Learuing, I too well ap- prehend the danger of fuch JZ#movations in an Age fo proneto fancies and diffettlements. In which nothing how- foever worthy ahd facred , has been able to defend it felf againft the rude hands of proud, becaufe Succeffeful violence suilded with the plwnder’d titles of Reformation and Religi- on. Vle affure youthen, though I had been fo fond and. unwife to engage in adefign fo unlikely in the wndertaker ; I fhould never have been fo aifingeniows and wndutiful as event , asto difcourage. young Students from a method of Studies the Conflitutions of the place they live in have-en- joyn’d them: Which indeed, confidering the circumiftances wherein things ftand, ’tis in a manner neceflary they (hould be vers’d ins fince that Philofephy- is wrought into the cur- rent Theology of Europe : which therefore would not be comprehended without an infight into thofe Ayporhefes, Nor can a Man make a reafonable choice of his Principles, except he have fome knowledge of a# that offer themfelves Candidates for his favowr : anda Wife Man’s belief is not chance, but election ; befides which, it enlarges and en- nobles the Minds of Men to furnifh them with varéery of conception , and takes them off from doating on the beloved Conclufions of their private and zarrow Principles, 1 blame not therefore the ufe of Ariffotle in the Univerfities among the Funior Sindems, thouzh I cannotapprove the seine a]