Rhetoric, science, & magic in seventeenth-century England

Resource Information

The work Rhetoric, science, & magic in seventeenth-century England represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Missouri University of Science & Technology Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Rhetoric, science, & magic in seventeenth-century England

Statement of responsibility

Ryan J. Stark

Title variation

Rhetoric, science, and magic in seventeenth-century England

Creator

• Stark, Ryan J

Author

• Stark, Ryan J

Subject

• Criticism, interpretation, etc
• Electronic books
• Electronic books
• England
• Englisch
• English language -- Early modern | Rhetoric
• English language -- Early modern, 1500-1700 -- Rhetoric
• English literature -- Early modern
• English literature -- Early modern, 1500-1700 -- History and criticism
• Geschichte 1600-1700
• History
• Literature and science
• Literature and science -- England -- History -- 17th century
• Occultism
• Occultism -- England -- History -- 17th century
• Rhetoric -- Philosophy
• Rhetoric -- Philosophy | History -- 17th century
• Rhetorik
• Rhetorik
• LITERARY CRITICISM -- European | English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
• 1500-1700

Genre

• Electronic books
• History
• Criticism, interpretation, etc

Language

eng

Summary

"Rhetoric operated at the crux of seventeenth-century thought, from arguments between scientists and magicians to anxieties over witchcraft and disputes about theology. Writers on all sides of these crucial topics stressed rhetorical discernment, because to the astute observer the shape of one's eloquence was perhaps the most reliable indicator of the heart's piety or, alternatively, of demonry. To understand the period's tenor, we must understand the period's rhetorical thinking, which is the focus of this book. Ryan J. Stark presents a spiritually sensitive, interdisciplinary, and original discussion of early modern English rhetoric. He shows specifically how experimental philosophers attempted to disenchant language. While rationalists and skeptics delighted in this disenchantment, mystics, wizards, and other practitioners of mysterious arts vehemently opposed the rhetorical precepts of modern science. These writers used tropes not as plain instruments but rather as numinous devices capable of transforming reality. On the contrary, the new philosophers perceived all esoteric language as a threat to learning's advancement, causing them to disavow both nefarious forms of occult spell casting and, unfortunately, edifying forms of wonderment and incantation. This fundamental conflict between scientists and mystics over the nature of rhetoric is the most significant linguistic happening in seventeenth-century England, and, as Stark argues, it ought profoundly to inform how we discuss the rise of modern English writing."--Jacket

Member of

• Ebook Central Academic Complete

Cataloging source

N$T

Dewey number

820.9

Index

index present

LC call number

PE1083

LC item number

.S73 2009eb

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

• dictionaries
• bibliography