Thomas Hobbes and his mechanistic physiology : factors in the reception of the mechanical philosophy in seventeenth century England

Thomas Hobbes is the generally acknowledged pre-eminent English political philosopher in the seventeenth century, and the political areas of his work have been much studied. His contribution in the field of physiology has remained largely unappreciated, and in fact has been deemed to be largely negative by those scholars who have examined it. By examining Hobbes' physiological theory and comparing it to that of other contemporary physiological scientists, this study reaches the conclusion that Hobbes was working very much as a part of the developing mechanical physiological tradition. Furthermore, the basis for making a case for a positive constructive role for Hobbes in the encouragement and dissemination of mechanical physiology in England is formulated. The reasons why such a positive role is not at first apparent are found to include the theological objections to any materialistic doctrine and Hobbes' reputation as an atheist entailed by his philosophy. The climate of scientific and clerical opinion surrounding Hobbes' ideas is also examined. The seemingly paradoxical situation in which Hobbes could make a significant contribution to English science and yet gain no overt recognition for that contribution is discussed.Arts, Faculty ofHistory, Department ofGraduat