Democritus Platonissans

by Henry More

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Pages: 78

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About this book

The scale of creation gives Henry More a subject for both philosophical argument and verse. His 1646 poem brings a universe of countless worlds into conversation with belief in an active divine presence. Astronomy supplies material for thinking about space, reason and faith. The accompanying introduction traces a change in More's thinking, explaining how his reading of Descartes encouraged him to reconsider his earlier rejection of infinity.

Numbered stanzas turn these large questions toward observations of the sky. More examines newly visible stars, considers whether their light comes from burning planets, and weighs explanations for the tails of comets. He presents possibilities and objections as part of his search for a reasoned account. Readers interested in early astronomical thought can follow that process through poetry, while the preserved original spelling gives the arguments the texture of their period.

About the author

Henry More

Henry More was an English philosopher, theologian, poet, and leading Cambridge Platonist whose work joined Christian thought with arguments about reason, spirit, and moral life. He studied at Eton before entering Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1631, and remained connected to the college throughout his career. An Account of Virtue, or Dr.