'The more we enquire, the less we can resolve,' wrote Johnson. Scepticism-a reasoned emphasis on the severe limitations of rationality-would seem to undermine the grounds of belief and action. But in some of the best eighteenth-century literature, a theoretically paralysing critique of thepretensions of reason, precept, and language went hand in hand with a vigorous intellectual, moral, and linguistic confidence. To realise philosophical scepticism as literature was effectively to transform it. Dr Parker traces the presence of this life-giving irony in works by Pope, Hume, Sterne,and Johnson, relates it more broadly to the social self-consciousness of eighteenth-century culture, and discusses its source in Locke and its inspiration in Montaigne. The argument serves as a reminder that radical scepticism is not the invention of the late twentieth century, and that itsstrategies and implications have never been more interestingly explored than in the eighteenth.

IRL Press at Oxford University Press

Oxford Institute for Energy Studies

German Historical Institute London

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

Oxford, New York, England, 2003

OXFORD, Unknown

Includes bibliographical references (p. [282]-285) and index.

'the More We Enquire, The Less We Can Resolve, ' Wrote Johnson. Scepticism - A Reasoned Emphasis On The Severe Limitations Of Rationality - Would Seem To Undermine The Grounds Of Belief And Action. But In Some Of The Best Eighteenth-century Literature, A Theoretically Paralysing Critique Of The Pretensions Of Reason, Precept, And Language Went Hand In Hand With A Vigorous Intellectual, Moral, And Linguistic Confidence. To Realize Philosophical Scepticism As Literature Was Effectively To Transform It. Dr. Parker Traces The Presence Of This Life-giving Irony In Works By Pope, Hume, Sterne, And Johnson, Discusses Its Source In Locke And Its Inspiration In Montaigne, And Relates It More Broadly To The Social Self-consciousness Of Eighteenth-century Culture. The Argument Serves As A Reminder That Radical Scepticism Is Not The Invention Of The Late Twentieth Century, And That Its Strategies And Implications Have Never Been More Interestingly Explored Than In The Eighteenth.--jacket. Rational Ignorance And Sceptical Thinking -- Just Supposing: Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding -- 'sworn To No Master': Pope's Scepticism In The Epistle To Bolingbroke And An Essay On Man -- Innocence And Simulation In The Scepticism Of Hume -- Tristram Shandy: Singularity And The Single Life -- Johnson's Conclusiveness. Fred Parker. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

In this first study of the role of scepticism in literature, Fred Parker offers a lively and stimulating introduction to key issues in eighteenth-century literature and philosophy. Parker traces the presence of sceptical thinking in works by Pope, Hume, Sterne, and Johnson, relates it more broadly to the social self-consciousness of eighteenth-century culture, and discusses its source in Locke and its inspiration in Montaigne.

2024-07-20