History of Scepticism by Popkin Richard H.;

Author:Popkin, Richard H.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2003-04-12T04:00:00+00:00

13

Philosophers of the Royal Society

Wilkins, Boyle, and Glanvill

Another way of dealing with the sceptical crisis in a nonmetaphysical way was offered by some of the philosophers, scientists, and theologians involved with the Royal Society of England. This theory of limited certitude was articulated especially by two figures, John Wilkins and Joseph Glanvill. Although Wilkins apparently formulated the theory first, it was published by Glanvill and then later appeared in Wilkins’ posthumous work “Of the Principles and Duties of Natural Religion.” The theory is a development from the earlier solution to the sceptical problems advanced by Sebastian Castellio and William Chillingworth.

The theory of limited certitude advanced by Chillingworth was accepted and developed by several moderate Anglican theologians, the Latitudinarians, as well as thinkers interested in relating religion and science. One of those who played a great role in this was John Wilkins (1614–72), who was warden of Wadham College, Oxford, during the Puritan Revolution and was also Cromwell’s brother-in-law. Wilkins gathered young men around him who were interested in the new science, which was not yet taught at Oxford, and interested in promoting both science and religion. Chief among these persons was Robert Boyle, who was to become one of the most important scientists of the seventeenth century.

Wilkins wrote Discovery of a New World and Discourse Concerning a New Planet. He argued against the criticisms made by Aristotelian theologians against the new ideas and sought to show that the new science did not really conflict with true religion. In so doing, he started developing an analysis of the kinds of evidence that could exist to support any theory in science and religion. He became a participant in a group in London that met to perform experiments and discuss scientific developments. When he was appointed at Oxford in 1649, he created a group called the Invisible College, which met in his quarters for a similar purpose. Its members included Robert Boyle, Christopher Wren, and others interested in the new science. In 1659 he was appointed as a master of Trinity College, Cambridge, by Cromwell’s successor, Richard Cromwell. After being dismissed from his post with the restoration of Charles II in 1660, Wilkins went to London and joined the scientific group that had reformed in the city at Gresham College. He worked on plans for an official society devoted to science and the development of useful knowledge (in Francis Bacon’s sense), and was the main author of the proposed charter of the Royal Society. Charles II authorized the society, and it officially began meeting in 1662, with Wilkins as one of its leaders. He accepted the Latitudinarian formulation of Christianity and in 1668 was made bishop of Chester. For the rest of his life he was involved with the Royal Society.1

In 1668 Wilkins published his Mercury, or the Secret and Swift Messenger, in which he wrote about creating a universal grammar to be used in bringing about the unification of the human race. He was impressed by the universality of mathematical and chemical

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