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History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe; Volume I
1882. Lecky's object in this work was to trace the history of the spirit of rationalism, by which he understood not any class of definite doctrines or criticisms, but rather a certain case of thought or bias of reasoning which gained a marked rise in Europe. The nature of this bias is shown in detail within the book when the examination of its influence upon the various forms of moral and intellectual development is discussed.
440 pages, Hardcover
Published February 20, 2019
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About the author
William Edward Hartpole Lecky
103 books22 followersWilliam Edward Hartpole Lecky was an Irish historian and political theorist. Born at Newtown Park, near Dublin, he was the eldest son of John Hartpole Lecky, a landowner. He was educated at Kingstown, Armagh, at Cheltenham College, and at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated BA in 1859 and MA in 1863, and where he studied divinity with a view to becoming a priest in the Protestant Church of Ireland.
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December 23, 2025
A FAMOUS 19TH CENTURY HISTORY OF THE DECLINE OF THE "MIRACULOUS"
[NOTE: this review covers both of the two volumes.]
William Edward Hartpole Lecky (1838-1903) was an Irish historian and political theorist, who also wrote books such as 'History of European Morals From Augustus to Charlemagne,' 'A History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century' (5 Volume Set), etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1865 book, "My object in the present work has been to trace the history of the spirit of Rationalism: by which I understand... a certain cast of thought, or bias of reasoning, which has during the last three centuries gained a marked ascendency in Europe... it leads men on all occasions to subordinate dogmative theology to the dictates of reason and of conscience, and... greatly to restrict its influence upon life." (Pg. xviii-xix)
He begins by stating, "There is certainly no change in the history of the last 300 years more striking... than that which has taken place in the estimate of the miraculous. At present nearly all educated men receive an account of a miracle taking place in their own day, with an absolute and even derisive incredulity with dispenses with all examination of the evidence... Yet a few centuries ago, there was no solution to which the mind of man turned more readily in every perplexity." (Pg. 1)
He recalls that "passionate horror of the fair sex which is such a striking characteristic of old Catholic theology... Hence, the long and fiery disquisitions on ... the unconquerably evil propensities of women, which were the terror of one age... they acquire a certain melancholy significance, from the fact that the teaching they represent had probably a considerable influence in predisposing men to believe in witches; and also in producing the extreme callousness with which the sufferings of the victims were contemplated." (Pg. 77)
About reported supernatural events, he dryly paraphrases Pierre Charron's 'A Treatise on Wisdom,' "We may not be able to discover an adequate solution of some statements on the subject, but we should consider... that it is far more probable that our senses should deceive us, than that an old woman should be carried up a chimney on a broomstick; and that it is far less astonishing that witnesses should lie, than that witches should perform the acts that were alleged." (Pg. 92)
He summarizes, "We have seen that ever since the revival of learning which preceded the Reformation... the human mind has been pursuing on this subject a uniform and unvarying course... Generation after generation the province of the miraculous has contracted, and the circle of scepticism has expanded... The rationalistic spirit has even attempted to explain away those [miracles] which are recorded in Scripture, and it has materially altered their position in the systems of theology... The idea of the miraculous... has been driven from almost all its entrenchments, and now quivers faintly and feebly through the mists of eighteen hundred years." (Pg. 180-182)
Perhaps surprisingly, Lecky has some positive things to say about Marian devotion: "never has there been ... a more salutary influence than the medieval conception of the Virgin. For the first time woman was elevated to her rightful position... woman rose, in the person of the Virgin Mother... became the object of a reverential homage of which antiquity had no conception. Love was idealized. The moral charm and beauty of female excellence were fully felt... it is the origin of many of the purest elements of our civilisation." (Pg. 213-214)
He observes, "When it is remembered that the Founder of Christianity summed up human duties in the two precepts of love to God and love to man... the history of persecution in the Christian Church appears as startling as it is painful." (Pg. 354)
He observes soberly, "If men believe with an intense and realising faith that their own view of a disputed question is true beyond all possibility of mistake, if they further believe that those who adopt other views will be doomed by the Almighty to an eternity of misery ... these men will, sooner or later, persecute to the full extent of their power... What suffering that man can inflict can be comparable to the eternal misery of all who embrace the doctrine of the heretic?" (Vol. 2, pg. 1-2)
He admits, "It is difficult indeed to overrate the debt of gratitude that England owes both to her own Nonepiscopal Churches and to those of Scotland... they clung fearlessly and faithfully to the banner of her freedom... [the Great Rebellion's] success was in a great measure due to the assistance of the Scotch, who were actuated mainly by religion... and to the spirit of enthusiasm created by ... Puritanism." (Vol. 2, pg. 177)
He concludes, "The destruction of the belief in witchcraft and of religious persecution... may be justly regarded as among the greatest triumphs of civilization; but, as we look back to the cheerful alacrity with which... men sacrificed all their material and intellectual interests to what they believed to be right, and when we realise the unclouded assurance that was their reward, it is impossible to deny that we have lost something in the progress." (Vol. 2, pg. 375)
Lecky's work is still fascinating reading, and will be a treasure for all freethinkers, rationalists, skeptics, atheists, and scientifically-minded people.
[NOTE: this review covers both of the two volumes.]
William Edward Hartpole Lecky (1838-1903) was an Irish historian and political theorist, who also wrote books such as 'History of European Morals From Augustus to Charlemagne,' 'A History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century' (5 Volume Set), etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1865 book, "My object in the present work has been to trace the history of the spirit of Rationalism: by which I understand... a certain cast of thought, or bias of reasoning, which has during the last three centuries gained a marked ascendency in Europe... it leads men on all occasions to subordinate dogmative theology to the dictates of reason and of conscience, and... greatly to restrict its influence upon life." (Pg. xviii-xix)
He begins by stating, "There is certainly no change in the history of the last 300 years more striking... than that which has taken place in the estimate of the miraculous. At present nearly all educated men receive an account of a miracle taking place in their own day, with an absolute and even derisive incredulity with dispenses with all examination of the evidence... Yet a few centuries ago, there was no solution to which the mind of man turned more readily in every perplexity." (Pg. 1)
He recalls that "passionate horror of the fair sex which is such a striking characteristic of old Catholic theology... Hence, the long and fiery disquisitions on ... the unconquerably evil propensities of women, which were the terror of one age... they acquire a certain melancholy significance, from the fact that the teaching they represent had probably a considerable influence in predisposing men to believe in witches; and also in producing the extreme callousness with which the sufferings of the victims were contemplated." (Pg. 77)
About reported supernatural events, he dryly paraphrases Pierre Charron's 'A Treatise on Wisdom,' "We may not be able to discover an adequate solution of some statements on the subject, but we should consider... that it is far more probable that our senses should deceive us, than that an old woman should be carried up a chimney on a broomstick; and that it is far less astonishing that witnesses should lie, than that witches should perform the acts that were alleged." (Pg. 92)
He summarizes, "We have seen that ever since the revival of learning which preceded the Reformation... the human mind has been pursuing on this subject a uniform and unvarying course... Generation after generation the province of the miraculous has contracted, and the circle of scepticism has expanded... The rationalistic spirit has even attempted to explain away those [miracles] which are recorded in Scripture, and it has materially altered their position in the systems of theology... The idea of the miraculous... has been driven from almost all its entrenchments, and now quivers faintly and feebly through the mists of eighteen hundred years." (Pg. 180-182)
Perhaps surprisingly, Lecky has some positive things to say about Marian devotion: "never has there been ... a more salutary influence than the medieval conception of the Virgin. For the first time woman was elevated to her rightful position... woman rose, in the person of the Virgin Mother... became the object of a reverential homage of which antiquity had no conception. Love was idealized. The moral charm and beauty of female excellence were fully felt... it is the origin of many of the purest elements of our civilisation." (Pg. 213-214)
He observes, "When it is remembered that the Founder of Christianity summed up human duties in the two precepts of love to God and love to man... the history of persecution in the Christian Church appears as startling as it is painful." (Pg. 354)
He observes soberly, "If men believe with an intense and realising faith that their own view of a disputed question is true beyond all possibility of mistake, if they further believe that those who adopt other views will be doomed by the Almighty to an eternity of misery ... these men will, sooner or later, persecute to the full extent of their power... What suffering that man can inflict can be comparable to the eternal misery of all who embrace the doctrine of the heretic?" (Vol. 2, pg. 1-2)
He admits, "It is difficult indeed to overrate the debt of gratitude that England owes both to her own Nonepiscopal Churches and to those of Scotland... they clung fearlessly and faithfully to the banner of her freedom... [the Great Rebellion's] success was in a great measure due to the assistance of the Scotch, who were actuated mainly by religion... and to the spirit of enthusiasm created by ... Puritanism." (Vol. 2, pg. 177)
He concludes, "The destruction of the belief in witchcraft and of religious persecution... may be justly regarded as among the greatest triumphs of civilization; but, as we look back to the cheerful alacrity with which... men sacrificed all their material and intellectual interests to what they believed to be right, and when we realise the unclouded assurance that was their reward, it is impossible to deny that we have lost something in the progress." (Vol. 2, pg. 375)
Lecky's work is still fascinating reading, and will be a treasure for all freethinkers, rationalists, skeptics, atheists, and scientifically-minded people.
Displaying 1 of 1 review