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Henry More (; 12 October 1614 – 1 September 1687) was an English philosopher of the Cambridge Platonist school.


Biography

Henry was born in
Grantham, Lincolnshire Grantham () is a market and industrial town in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, situated on the banks of the River Witham and bounded to the west by the A1 road (Great Britain), A1 road. It lies some 23 miles (37 km) s ...
on 12 October 1614. He was the seventh son of Alexander More, mayor of Grantham, and Anne More (née Lacy). Both his parents were
Calvinists Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John ...
but he himself "could never swallow that hard doctrine." He was schooled at The King's School, Grantham and at
Eton College Eton College () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI of England, Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. i ...
. In 1631 he entered
Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college includes the Master, the Fellows of the College, and about 450 undergraduate and 170 graduate students. The college was founded by William Byngham in 1437 as ...
, at about the time
John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem ''Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and politica ...
was leaving it. He took his BA in 1635, his MA in 1639, and immediately afterwards became a fellow of his college, turning down all other positions that were offered. He would not accept the mastership of his college, to which, it is understood, he would have been preferred in 1654, when
Ralph Cudworth Ralph Cudworth ( ; 1617 – 26 June 1688) was an English Anglican clergyman, Christian Hebraist, classicist, theologian and philosopher, and a leading figure among the Cambridge Platonists who became 11th Regius Professor of Hebrew ...
was appointed. In 1675, he finally accepted a
prebend A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of t ...
in
Gloucester Cathedral Gloucester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the River Severn. It originated with the establishment of a minster dedicated to ...
, but only to resign it in favour of his friend Edward Fowler, afterwards
bishop of Gloucester The Bishop of Gloucester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire. The see's centre of governan ...
. More taught many notable pupils, including Anne Finch, sister of Heneage Finch, subsequently Earl of Nottingham. She later became Lady Conway, and at her country seat at Ragley in Warwickshire, More would spend "a considerable part of his time." She and her husband both appreciated him, and amidst the woods of this retreat he wrote several of his books. The spiritual enthusiasm of Lady Conway was a considerable factor in some of More's speculations, even though she at length joined the
Quakers Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abili ...
. She became the friend not only of More and
William Penn William Penn ( – ) was an English writer and religious thinker belonging to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, a North American colony of England. He was an early advocate of democracy a ...
, but of
Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont (baptised 20 October 1614 – December 1698) was a Flemish alchemist and writer, the son of Jan Baptist van Helmont. He is now best known for his publication in the 1640s of his father's pioneer works on chemistr ...
(1614–1699) and Valentine Greatrakes, mystical thaumaturgists of the 17th-century. Ragley became a centre of devotion and
spiritualism Spiritualism is the metaphysical school of thought opposing physicalism and also is the category of all spiritual beliefs/views (in monism and dualism) from ancient to modern. In the long nineteenth century, Spiritualism (when not lowercase ...
.


Views

More was a rationalist theologian. He attempted to use the details of 17th-century
mechanical philosophy The mechanical philosophy is a form of natural philosophy which compares the universe to a large-scale mechanism (i.e. a machine). The mechanical philosophy is associated with the scientific revolution of early modern Europe. One of the first expo ...
—as developed by
René Descartes René Descartes ( or ; ; Latinized: Renatus Cartesius; 31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650) was a French philosopher, scientist, and mathematician, widely considered a seminal figure in the emergence of modern philosophy and science. Ma ...
—to establish the existence of immaterial substance. More rejected
Cartesian dualism Cartesian means of or relating to the French philosopher René Descartes—from his Latinized name ''Cartesius''. It may refer to: Mathematics * Cartesian closed category, a closed category in category theory *Cartesian coordinate system, moder ...
on the following grounds: "It would be easier for me to attribute matter and extension to the soul, than to attribute to an immaterial thing the capacity to move and be moved by the body.' His difficulties with Cartesian dualism arose, not from an inability to understand how material and immaterial substances could interact, but from an unwillingness to accept any unextended entity as any kind of real entity. More continues "...it is plain that if a thing be at all it must be extended." So for More 'spirit' too must be extended. This led him to the idea of a ' fourth dimension' (a term which he coined) in which the spirit is extended (to which he gave the curious name of "essential spissitude") and to an original solution to the mind-body problem.


Influence

More appears to be the origin of the still-popular slur against medieval
Scholasticism Scholasticism was a medieval school of philosophy that employed a critical organic method of philosophical analysis predicated upon the Aristotelian 10 Categories. Christian scholasticism emerged within the monastic schools that translat ...
that it engaged in useless speculative debates, such as how many angels might dance on the head of a pin (or "on a needles icpoint," as he puts it), in the second chapter of ''The Immortality of the Soul''. A quotation from More is used as the epigraph of
Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803April 27, 1882), who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a cham ...
's essay "
The Over-soul "The Over-Soul" is an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson, first published in 1841. With the human soul as its overriding subject, several general themes are treated: (1) the existence and nature of the human soul; (2) the relationship between the soul ...
". Helena Blavatsky, the founder of
Theosophy Theosophy is a religion established in the United States during the late 19th century. It was founded primarily by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and draws its teachings predominantly from Blavatsky's writings. Categorized by scholars of religion a ...
, quoted More and gave an exposition of his ideas in chapter VII of "
Isis Unveiled ''Isis Unveiled: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology'', published in 1877, is a book of esoteric philosophy and Helena Petrovna Blavatsky's first major work and a key text in her Theosophical movement. The ...
".


Works

More was a prolific writer of verse and prose. The ''Divine Dialogues'' (1688) condenses his general view of philosophy and religion. Like many others, he began as a poet and ended as a prose writer. His first work, published in 1642, but written two years earlier, was ''Psychodoia Platonica: or, a Platonicall Song of the Soul, consisting of four several Poems.'' It was followed in 1647 by his full collection of ''Philosophical Poems'', which includes ''The Song of the Soul'', enlarged and is dedicated to his father. A second edition was published in the same year, and it was included by A. B. Grosart in his Chertsey Worthies Library (1878).''Dictionary of National Biography''; More, Henry (1614–1687). More's prose works are: *''Observations upon Anthroposophic Theomagica and Anima Magica Abscondita'', by Alazonomastix Philalethes (pseudonym, see
-mastix -mastix is a suffix derived from Ancient Greek, and used quite frequently in English literature of the 17th century, to denote a strong opponent or hater of whatever the suffix was attached to. It became common after Thomas Dekker's play '' Sati ...
), 1650; in answer to Thomas Vaughan, who replied in ''The Man-mouse took in a Trape''. *'' The Second Lash of Alazonomastix'', a rejoinder to Vaughan, 1651. *''An Antidote against Atheism, or an Appeal to the Natural Faculties of the Minde of Man, whether there be not a God,'' 1653: 2nd edit. corrected and enlarged, with an Appendix, 1655. *conjecture Cabbalistica ... or a Conjectural Essay of Interpreting the Minde of Moses, according to a Threefold Cabbala: viz. Literal, Philosophical, Mystical, or Divinely Moral'', 1653; dedicated to
Ralph Cudworth Ralph Cudworth ( ; 1617 – 26 June 1688) was an English Anglican clergyman, Christian Hebraist, classicist, theologian and philosopher, and a leading figure among the Cambridge Platonists who became 11th Regius Professor of Hebrew ...
. * enthusiasm Triumphatus, or a Discourse of Nature, Causes, Kinds, and Cure of Enthusiasm; written by Philophilus Parrasiastes, and prefixed to Alazonomastix his Observations and Reply'', 1656. *'' The Immortality of the Soul, so far forth as it is demonstrable from the Knowledge of Nature and the Light of Reason'', 1659; dedicated to Viscount Conway. *''An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness; or a True and Faithful Representation of the Everlasting Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'', 1660. *'' A Modest Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity'', and an ''Apologie'', 1664. *''Enchiridion Ethicum, praecipua Moralis Philosophiae Rudimenta complectens, illustrate ut plurimum Veterum Monuments, et ad Probitatem Vitae perpetuo accommodate'', 1667, 1668, 1669, 1695, 1696, and 1711. *''Divine Dialogues, containing sundry Disquisitions and Instructions concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World'', 1668. The most authentic edition appeared in 1713. *''An Exposition of the Seven Epistles to the Seven Churches; Together with a Brief Discourse of Idolatry, with application to the Church of Rome.'' The title of the latter in the volume itself is ''An Antidote against Idolatry'', and it elicited from More in reply to attacks ''A brief Reply to a late Answer to Dr. Henry More his antidote against Idolatry'', 1672, and ''An Appendix to the late Antidote against Idolatry'', 1673. *
Enchiridion Metaphysicum: sive, de rebus incorporeal succinct et luculent dissertatio
pars prima'', 1671, an attack on Cartesian philosophy, which he had in earlier life admired. *''Remarks upon two late ingenious Discourses Matthew_Hale.html" ;"title="Matthew_Hale_(jurist).html" ;"title="y Matthew Hale (jurist)">Matthew Hale">Matthew_Hale_(jurist).html" ;"title="y Matthew Hale (jurist)">Matthew Hale the one, an Essay, touching the Gravitation and non-Gravitation of Fluid Bodies; the other, touching the Torricellian Experiment, so far forth as they may concern any passages in his "Enchiridion Metaphysicum,"'' 1676. *''Apocalypsis Apocalypseos; or the Revelation of St. John the Divine unveiled: an exposition from chapter to chapter and from verse to verse of the whole Book of the Apocalypse'', 1680. *''A Plain and continued Exposition of the several Prophecies or Divine Visions of the Prophet Daniel, which have or may concern the People of God, whether Jew or Christian'', 1681. *''A Brief Discourse of the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist; wherein the Witty Artifices of the Bishop of Meaux [Bossuet] and of Monsieur Maimbourg are obviated, whereby they would draw in the Protestants to imbrace the doctrine of Transubstantiation'', 1681. More is also believed to have written ''Philosophiae Teutonicae Censura'', 1670, a criticism of the
theosophy Theosophy is a religion established in the United States during the late 19th century. It was founded primarily by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and draws its teachings predominantly from Blavatsky's writings. Categorized by scholars of religion a ...
of Jacob Boehme; and to have edited
Joseph Glanvill Joseph Glanvill (1636 – 4 November 1680) was an English writer, philosopher, and clergyman. Not himself a scientist, he has been called "the most skillful apologist of the virtuosi", or in other words the leading propagandist for the approa ...
's ''
Saducismus Triumphatus ''Saducismus triumphatus'' is a book on witchcraft by Joseph Glanvill, published posthumously in England in 1681. The editor is presumed to have been Henry More, who certainly contributed to the volume; and topical material on witchcraft in Swe ...
'', 1681. He certainly contributed largely to the volume, and also wrote many of the annotations to Glanvill's ''Lux Orientalis'', 1682. More agreed with Glanvill on belief in
witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have ...
and apparitions. Several letters from More to John Worthington are printed in Worthington's ''Diary'', and some ''Letters Philosophical and Moral'' between John Norris and Henry More are added to Norris's ''Theory and Regulation of Love'', 1688. ''A Collection of several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More'' was first published in 1662 and includes his ''Antidote against Atheism'', with the Appendix, ''Enthusiasmus Triumphatus'', ''Letters to Des Cartes'', &c., ''Immortality of the Soul'', and ''Conjectura Cabbalistica''. A fourth edition, corrected and much enlarged, was published in 1712, with notes.' More issued complete editions of his works, his ''Opera theologica'' in 1675, and his ''Opera philosophica'' in 1678. Between 1672 and 1675 he was principally engaged in translating his English works into Latin. In 1675 appeared ''Henrici Mori Cantabrigiensis Opera Theologica, Anglice quidem primitius scripta, mine vero per autorem Latine reddita. Hisce novus praefixus est De Synchronismis Apocalypticis Tractatulus.'' It was followed in 1679 by a larger work in two volumes, ''Henrici Mori Cantabrigiensis Opera Omnia, tum quae Latine tum quae Anglice scripta sunt; nunc vero Latinitate donata instigatu et impensis generosissimi juvenis Johannis Cockshutt nobilis Angli''. John Cockshutt of the
Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional associations for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and ...
had left a legacy of £300 to More to have three of his principal pieces translated into Latin; and More complied with the terms of the legacy by translating into Latin many more of his English works. In 1692 were published ''Discourses on Several Texts of Scripture'', with a preface signed "John Worthington"; and in 1694 ''Letters on Several Subjects'', published by
Edmund Elys Edmund Elys (Ellis) (c. 1633 – 1708) was an English clergyman, poet and versatile writer. Considered eccentric, he encountered personal troubles before finally losing his living as a non-juror after the Glorious Revolution. He was connected both ...
. Abridgments of and extracts from the works of More were numerous; and in 1708 a volume was published for charitable libraries, ''The Theological Works of the most Pious and Learned Henry More''. The work is in English, but "according to the author's Improvements in his Latin edition". The main authorities for More's life are Richard Ward's ''Life'' (1710); the ''prefatio generalissima'' prefixed to his ''Opera omnia'' (1679); and also an account of his writings in an ''Apology'' published in 1664. His ''Philosophical Poems'' appeared (1647), with his Echief speculations and experiences". Analysis of his life and works is given in John Tulloch's ''Rational Theology'', vol. ii. (1874); see also
Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann / Johann Georg Zimmermann (8 December 1728, in Brugg, Aargau7 October 1795, in Hanover) was a Swiss philosophical writer, naturalist, and physician. He was the private physician of George III and later Frederi ...
, ''Henry More und die vierte Dimension des Raums'' (Vienna, 1881); ''Henry More: Tercentenary Studies'', ed. by Sarah Hutton (Dordrecht, 1990).


Notes


References

* Aharon Lichtenstein, ''Henry More: The Rational Theology of a Cambridge Platonist'' Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1962. * S. Hutton (ed.) ''Henry More (1614–1687): Tercentenary Studies'' Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1990. * D. Hedley and S. Hutton (ed.) ''Platonism at the Origins of Modernity'' Dordrecht: Springer, 2008. * Ryan Stark, ''Rhetoric, Science, and Magic in Seventeenth-Century England.'' Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2009, 99–101. * Jasper Reid, ''The Metaphysics of Henry More''. Dordrecht: Springer, 2012. ;Attribution * *


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:More, Henry 17th-century English Anglican priests 17th-century English philosophers Enlightenment philosophers People from Grantham Cambridge Platonists People educated at Eton College 17th-century Christian mystics 1614 births 1687 deaths Christian Hebraists Alumni of Christ's College, Cambridge Fellows of Christ's College, Cambridge Fellows of the Royal Society Protestant mystics People educated at The King's School, Grantham English male non-fiction writers