The Age of Genius: The Seventeenth Century and the Birth of the Modern Mind

by A. C. Grayling

Overview

The Age of Genius explores the eventful intertwining of outward event and inner intellectual life to tell, in all its richness and depth, the story of the 17th century in Europe. It was a time of creativity unparalleled in history before or since, from science to the arts, from philosophy to politics. Acclaimed philosopher and historian A.C. Grayling points to three primary factors that led to the rise of vernacular (popular) languages in philosophy, theology, science, and literature; the rise of the individual as a general and not merely an aristocratic type; and the invention and application of instruments and measurement in the study of the natural world.

Grayling vividly reconstructs this unprecedented era and breathes new life into the major figures of the seventeenth century intelligentsia who span literature, music, science, art, and philosophy—Shakespeare, Monteverdi, Galileo, Rembrandt, Locke, Newton, Descartes, Vermeer, Hobbes, Milton, and Cervantes, among many more. During this century, a fundamentally new way of perceiving the world emerged as reason rose to prominence over tradition, and the rights of the individual took center stage in philosophy and politics, a paradigmatic shift that would define Western thought for centuries to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781408870020
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/09/2017
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	581,712
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

A.C. Grayling is professor of philosophy at and Master of the New College of the Humanities, London. He believes that philosophy should take an active, useful role in society and is a prolific author whose books include philosophy, ethics, biography, history, drama and essays. He has been a regular contributor to the Times, Financial Times, the Observer, the Independent on Sunday, the Economist, the Literary Review, New Statesman, and Prospect, and is a frequent and popular contributor to radio and television programs, including Newsnight, Today, In Our Time, Start the Week, and CNN News. Among his recent books are Towards the Light: The Story of the Struggle for Liberty and Rights that Made the Modern West, Liberty in the Age of Terror, Descartes, The Good Book: A Secular Bible, and The God Argument.

Table of Contents

Map x

Author's Note xiii

Part I Introduction

1 Seeing the Universe 3

2 The Epoch in Human History 7

Part II A Time of Wars

3 The Origins of the Wars 25

4 The Loss of the Palatinate 41

5 The Mercenary Captains 51

6 The Edict of Restitution, 1629 61

7 The Swedish Apogee 69

8 From Wallenstein to Breisach 79

9 Towards Westphalia 89

10 In the Ruins of Europe 103

11 The Maritime Conflicts 107

Part III The Cumulation of Ideas

12 The Intelligencers 117

13 The Short Ways to Knowledge 141

14 Dr Dee and the Potent Art 163

15 The Rosicrucian Scare 183

Part IV From Magic to Science

16 From Magic to Method 209

17 The Birth of Science 231

18 War and Science 267

Part V The Social Order

19 Society and Politics 277

20 Language and Belief 303

Part VI Conclusion

21 Is It a Myth? 319

Notes 325

Bibliography 337

Index 341

Acknowledgments 352

Editorial Reviews

01/11/2016
In this insightful history, Grayling (The Challenge of Things), a professor of philosophy and master at the New College of the Humanities in London, claims that the 17th century “is in fact the epoch in the history of the human mind.” He theorizes that this period marked a momentous transition in the way people think and approach the world, that “the mindset of the best-informed people in that century changed from being medieval to being modern in so short and tumultuous a time.” Recognizing the vastness of his area of focus and the impossibility of covering it all in one volume, Grayling nevertheless makes a spirited effort to address as much as possible. He ties together the wars that disrupted the status quo and transformed the geopolitical landscape, the onset of the scientific revolution that supplanted superstition, and the general flow of ideas and inspiration, showing how numerous figures in dozens of disciplines contributed to a cultural evolution. The 17th century in Europe, he concludes, “redirected the course of human history by changing humankind’s perspective on the universe and itself.” Grayling’s style is densely academic, but his book is nonetheless informative and thoughtful. Agency: Felicity Bryan Literary Agency. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"[A] sweeping, lively historical survey . . . Another thought-provoking winner from Grayling." —Kirkus Reviews

"Grayling does a fantastic job of proving his assertion that the 17th century saw a dramatic shift in Western thought. [A] highly engaging book." —Library Journal

"Grayling is a natural educator . . . He provides concise and helpful summaries of pertinent events and ideas." —The Spectator

"Grayling is a model of clarity . . . As a survey of the period, The Age of Genius is fascinating. Grayling is particularly good on the dissemination of ideas and the physical transmission of information around Europe . . . As an account of the development of ideas during one of the most exciting periods in Western history, The Age of Genius excels. Its scope is remarkable and it wears its learning lightly." —Literary Review

"Sturdily written and informative . . . persuasively argued." - New York Review of Books

“A marvel, a 'distillation' of over a thousand authoritative texts, edited, redacted, and assembled in the manner of the (Holy) Bible, though by one man rather than many; written in a crisp, beautiful English.” —The New Yorker on THE GOOD BOOK

“You don't have to be a nonbeliever to find solace and wisdom in the distilled ideas presented here.” —Huffington Post on THE GOOD BOOK

“A probing, thoughtful meditation.” —Philadelphia Inquirer on AMONG THE DEAD CITIES

“Debunks the teleological, ontological and cosmological arguments employed throughout Christendom for the literal existence of God . . . Those looking for a succinct analysis of these centuries old debates will appreciate Grayling's insights.” —The Washington Post on THE GOD ARGUMENT

“Mr. Grayling is precise and incisive. He rattles through the standard arguments against the existence of God and does a capable job of demolishing those put forward in the hope of proving a deity's existence . . . His brand of humanism comes across as sensible, reasonable, and characterized by a generosity of spirit that is often absent from religious structures.” —The Economist on THE GOD ARGUMENT

From the Publisher

02/01/2016
Grayling (philosophy & master of the college, New Coll. of the Humanities, UK) explores the making of the modern mind in the 17th century, claiming that the period is unique because of how quickly European thought moved from a medieval mind-set to a modern one. The religious conflicts and wars of this era led to what Grayling calls "the distracted authorities," where those in charge were focused on conflicts instead of policing intellectual thought. The flourishing of ideas during this time was also influenced by the demise of occult thinking, the ease of correspondence, and the use of new scientific instruments. Rather than relying on religion and faith, the philosophers and scientists of this time, such as René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, and Francis Bacon, were able to reject freely the influences of past thinkers and use reason and observation as a basis for their theories. VERDICT Grayling does a fantastic job of proving his assertion that the 17th century saw a dramatic shift in Western thought. Readers with an interest in the history of philosophy and scientific discovery will enjoy this highly engaging book.—Scott Duimstra, Capital Area Dist. Lib., Lansing, MI

Library Journal

★ 2015-11-19
A British philosopher examines a century of profound intellectual change. In this sweeping, lively historical survey, Grayling (Philosophy/New Coll. of the Humanities, London; The Challenge of Things: Thinking Through Troubled Times, 2015, etc.) argues vigorously that in the 17th century, an "age of strife and genius," humankind experienced "the greatest ever change in…mental outlook." Certainly the century was peopled by some major figures, including Descartes (the subject of one of Grayling's biographies), Shakespeare, Cervantes, Milton, Hobbes, Spinoza, Pascal, Galileo, Newton, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Besides giving an overview of their contributions, the author reveals how they interacted in the rich "republic of letters" in which they shared ideas. Letter writing, he contends, flourished because of the availability of cheap paper and both public and private postal services. Significant among the busy correspondents was a French Minim monk, Marin Mersenne, whom the author describes as "the seventeenth century's closest thing to an internet server"—he corresponded with about 150 leading mathematicians, astronomers, and philosophers and fostered the sharing of their ideas. It was Mersenne, Grayling notes, who put Descartes together with Pascal. Also influential in disseminating ideas was the polymath Samuel Hartlib, who boasted nearly 500 correspondents across Europe, including Galileo, and wrote dozens of letters each day. Grayling sets the robust intellectual life against the politics of the day, which saw unrest, upheaval, and almost constant war. Only for three years was there no fighting; war was "the normal condition of the time; war was the wallpaper." Nevertheless, war pushed scientific innovation as armies sought improved weaponry. Grayling examines scientific change more broadly, contrasting religious and occult perspectives on understanding nature with the rise of the scientific method. By the end of the century, faith had been repudiated as a method of inquiry. Out of a "fractured and fractious time," the author asserts persuasively, the medieval mind evolved into the modern. Another thought-provoking winner from Grayling.

Kirkus Reviews