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Chapter 5 - Atomism

from Part III - Curtailing the Explanatory Ambitions of Naturalistic Philosophies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2022

Peter N. Jordan
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Summary

This chapter looks at Epicurean atomism as it was articulated by the physician and natural philosopher Walter Charleton. Charleton was among the first in England to advocate for a Christianised version of Epicureanism, a philosophy long considered suspicious because of its purportedly atheistic implications. Charleton countered these concerns by situating Epicurean atomism within a providential picture of the world. This chapter examines the main elements of Charleton’s worldview, the influence of atomism on his providential naturalism, and his understanding of the affective consequences of invoking natural causality in a providentially governed world.

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Chapter
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Naturalism in the Christian Imagination
Providence and Causality in Early Modern England
, pp. 113 - 145
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Atomism
  • Peter N. Jordan, University of Oxford
  • Book: Naturalism in the Christian Imagination
  • Online publication: 30 June 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009211970.007
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  • Atomism
  • Peter N. Jordan, University of Oxford
  • Book: Naturalism in the Christian Imagination
  • Online publication: 30 June 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009211970.007
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

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 Google Drive.

  • Atomism
  • Peter N. Jordan, University of Oxford
  • Book: Naturalism in the Christian Imagination
  • Online publication: 30 June 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009211970.007
Available formats
×