The Theorist : Thomas Burnet and his sacred history of the earth
Thomas Burnet's Telluris theoria sacra and its English translation the Theory of the earth, published in two volumes between 1681 and 1690, was one of the most widely-discussed and controversial philosophical and theological works of late-seventeenth-century England. In it, Burnet attempted to trace the earth's history from the Creation, through the Deluge, Conflagration, and Millennium, to the final consummation. Despite its notoriety, a full, in-depth study of this work has yet to be produced in English. This thesis is a first step to providing such a study. The thesis is composed of six chapters. The first offers a detailed overview of the Theory's two volumes and their historical context. Chapter two examines its philosophical, theological, scriptural, and antiquarian foundations. The third chapter looks at two early responses to the work, Burnet's replies to these responses, and his hugely controversial supplement to the Theory, the Archaeologiae philosophicae, published in 1692. Chapter four examines the so-called ~Burnet controversy~, a proliferation of writings which emerged following the publication of the Archaeologiae and which attacked the Theory and proposed alternative philosophical accounts
Rossetter, Thomas
The Theorist : Thomas Burnet and his sacred history of the earth. Thomas Burnet's Telluris theoria sacra and its English translation the Theory of the earth, published in two volumes between 1681 and 1690, was one of the most widely-discussed and controversial philosophical and theological works of late-seventeenth-century England. In it, Burnet attempted to trace the earth's history from the Creation, through the Deluge, Conflagration, and Millennium, to the final consummation. Despite its notoriety, a full, in-depth study of this work has yet to be produced in English. This thesis is a first step to providing such a study. The thesis is composed of six chapters. The first offers a detailed overview of the Theory's two volumes and their historical context. Chapter two examines its philosophical, theological, scriptural, and antiquarian foundations. The third chapter looks at two early responses to the work, Burnet's replies to these responses, and his hugely controversial supplement to the Theory, the Archaeologiae philosophicae, published in 1692. Chapter four examines the so-called ~Burnet controversy~, a proliferation of writings which emerged following the publication of the Archaeologiae and which attacked the Theory and proposed alternative philosophical accounts
theorist thomas sacred history earth thomas english_translation theory earth publish two_volume widely discussed controversial philosophical_theological work late seventeenth_century_england attempt trace earth history creation millennium final despite full depth_study work yet produce english first_step provide study compose six_chapter first offer_detail overview theory two_volume historical_context two_examines philosophical_theological scriptural antiquarian foundation third_look early response work reply response controversial supplement theory publish examines so_called controversy proliferation writing emerge follow publication attack theory propose_alternative philosophical account