Robert Boyle and the Limits of Reason

Jan W. Wojcik

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511573002

In this study of Robert Boyle's epistemology, Jan W. Wojcik reveals the theological context within which Boyle developed his views on reason's limits. After arguing that a correct interpretation of his views on 'things above reason' depends upon reading his works in the context of theological controversies in seventeenth-century England, Professor Wojcik details exactly how Boyle's three specific categories of things which transcend reason - the incomprehensible, the inexplicable, and the unsociable - affected his conception of what a natural philosopher could hope to know. Also covered in detail is Boyle's belief that God had deliberately limited the human intellect in order to reserve a full knowledge of both theology and natural philosophy for the afterlife.

- Aa Reduce text
- Aa Enlarge text

View selected items
Save to my bookmarks
Export citations
Download PDF (zip)
Save to Kindle
Save to Dropbox
Save to Google Drive
Save content to
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to .

To save content items to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Please be advised that item(s) you selected are not available.
You are about to save
Your Kindle email address

Please provide your Kindle email.

@free.kindle.com @kindle.com (service fees apply)

By using this service, you agree that you will only keep content for personal use, and will not openly distribute them via Dropbox, Google Drive or other file sharing services

Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Contents
pp vii-viii
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Preface
pp ix-xiv
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Acknowledgments
pp xv-xvi
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Introduction
pp 1-24
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Part I - The Theological Context
pp 25-26
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

1 - Things above Reason: Medieval Context and Concepts
pp 27-41
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

2 - The Threat of Socinianism
pp 42-75
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

3 - Predestination Controversies
pp 76-94
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

4 - Theology and the Limits of Reason
pp 95-118
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Part II - The Context of Natural Philosophy
pp 119-120
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

5 - Philosophies of Nature and their Theological Implications
pp 121-136
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

6 - Sources of Knowledge
pp 137-150
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

7 - The Limits of Reason and Knowledge of Nature
pp 151-188
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

8 - Boyle's Voluntarism and the Limits of Reason
pp 189-211
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Conclusion
pp 212-219
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Bibliography
pp 220-238
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Index
pp 239-243
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Total number of HTML views: 0

Total number of PDF views: 0 *

Loading metrics...

Total views: 0 *

Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Usage data cannot currently be displayed.

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.

Robert Boyle and the Limits of Reason

This Book has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref.

Book description

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

Preface
pp ix-xiv

Acknowledgments
pp xv-xvi

Introduction
pp 1-24

Part I - The Theological Context
pp 25-26

1 - Things above Reason: Medieval Context and Concepts
pp 27-41

2 - The Threat of Socinianism
pp 42-75

3 - Predestination Controversies
pp 76-94

4 - Theology and the Limits of Reason
pp 95-118

Part II - The Context of Natural Philosophy
pp 119-120

5 - Philosophies of Nature and their Theological Implications
pp 121-136

6 - Sources of Knowledge
pp 137-150

7 - The Limits of Reason and Knowledge of Nature
pp 151-188

8 - Boyle's Voluntarism and the Limits of Reason
pp 189-211

Conclusion
pp 212-219

Bibliography
pp 220-238

Index
pp 239-243

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Book summary page views

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

Accessibility Information

Robert Boyle and the Limits of Reason

Book description

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Save Search

Contents

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Book summary page views

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

Accessibility Information