The two concepts of hypocrisy and heresy are completely
disparate in modern use, and yet they were related in two ways
during the early modern period. Firstly, both terms were
prominent charges in the polemical exchanges of the English
Reformation. Consequently, in this thesis they provide useful
tools for studying the effects of controversy on language.
The meaning of hypocrisy and of heresy was of considerable
concern to many controversialists, and yet the resulting
attempts at defining these terms contributed to their
destabilization and incoherence.
These terms were also related in a second respect
throughout the early modern period. Given the universal
conviction at that time that there was only one “true” church,
and given the consequent pressures imposed by churches (both
Catholic and Protestant) to enforce conformity to their own
religions, it was inevitable that judgements had to be made
concerning the convictions and internal beliefs of others.
Such judgements were central in charges of heresy and
hypocrisy; hence in this thesis the concepts of hypocrisy and
heresy provide useful tools for studying early modern
understandings of intentionality and judgement. The writings
of Sir John Cheke, William Perkins, Bishop Joseph Hall and Sir
Francis Bacon are shown to display concern combined with
confusion and incoherence over these topics. However, Sir
Thomas More’s Dialogue Concerning Heresies is shown to contain an intricate and coherent analysis of intentionality and
judgement vis a vis heresy. But, More’s foundation for
judgement and knowledge was the consensus fidelium, a
foundation which simply was not available to the later
Protestant writers.
Lastly, Thomas Hobbes’s treatments of hypocrisy and
heresy are examined. In effect, Hobbes negated the judgement
of intentions where both concepts were concerned. He
acknowledged and accepted the separation of internal belief
from external profession. Likewise he accepted the
impenetrable nature of the human mind and heart in a way his
forebears had not. By examining Hobbes’s treatment of these
concepts in light of the polemical confusion and conceptual
incoherence of the preceeding century, a better understanding
of Hobbes’s philosophy is obtained and the relevance of early
modern theology for intellectual history is demonstrated.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/3216 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Stewart, Patricia Weightman |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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