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Various Thoughts on the Occasion of a Comet Paperback – May 18, 2000

by Pierre Bayle (Author)

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A new translation of Pierre Bayle's first great work, which undermines the influence of "superstition" in political life and laid the groundwork for the separation of church and state.

"I tremble when I recall the terrible appearance [the comet] had on Saturday evening in the clear sky, when it was observed by everybody with inexpressible astonishment. It seemed as though the heavens were burning, or as if the very air was on fire[F]rom this little star stretched out such a wonderfully long tail that even an intellectual man was overcome with trembling; one's hair stood on end as this uncommon, terrible, and indescribable tail came into view...O wonderful almighty God! The heavens show thy might and the earth thy handiwork!" -- Eyewitness account of a comet which appeared over Europe on December 24, 1680

The appearance of this comet caused so many panicked inquiries to be made of Pierre Bayle, one of the Enlightenment's greatest thinkers, that he decided to formally respond to them, hence the present work, which first appeared in 1682. The book's principle task was to undermine the influence of "superstition" in political life, and it was here that Bayle made the notorious suggestion, unique in the history of political thought until then, that a decent society of atheists is possible in principle. There is no other English translation of this book in print--the only other version was printed in 1708. This translation is based on a recently revised critical edition of the complete French text and includes a substantial interpretive essay that both elucidates the arguments of the work and indicates the importance of Bayle in the history of the modern Enlightenment.

"All students of political philosophy will be in Bartlett's debt when this is published. Because of Bayle's argument, supporters of religion today have great difficulty in assuming that religion is the only way to morality. Everybody in the field has heard of Bayle, and most are vaguely aware of the significance of his argument, but few have read him; and Bartlett now makes this easy." -- Harvey C. Mansfield, Harvard University

Various Thoughts on the Occasion of a Comet

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All students of political philosophy will be in Bartlett s debt when this is published. Because of Bayle s argument, supporters of religion today have great difficulty in assuming that religion is the only way to morality. Everybody in the field has heard of Bayle, and most are vaguely aware of the significance of his argument, but few have read him; and Bartlett now makes this easy. Harvey C. Mansfield, Harvard University"

"All students of political philosophy will be in Bartlett's debt when this is published. Because of Bayle's argument, supporters of religion today have great difficulty in assuming that religion is the only way to morality. Everybody in the field has heard of Bayle, and most are vaguely aware of the significance of his argument, but few have read him; and Bartlett now makes this easy." -- Harvey C. Mansfield, Harvard University

About the Author

Robert C. Bartlett is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Emory University. He is the author of The Shorter Socratic Writings of Xenophon: Apology of Socrates to the Jury, Oeconomicus, and Symposium.

Paperback: 380 pages
Publisher: State University of New York Press (May 18, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0791445488
ISBN-13: 978-0791445488
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #817,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #581 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Movements > Humanism
- #655 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Epistemology
- #779 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Occult & Paranormal > Parapsychology > ESP

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Mary Elizabeth Roberts

Excellent reading.

June 9, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Full of provocative, and mind altering thoughts. Excellent reading.

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Rufus Calder

Repetitive but important

June 2, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a good primer on Enlightenment thinking. Bayle begins his argument by saying that phenomenon traditionally understood as miraculous (comets, eclipses) could and should be understood as completely naturalistic events. Bayle applies similar logic to politics, arguing that governance is an earthly matter and should therefore also be divorced from any divine references.

Bayle's general argument might sound a bit banal to the modern ear, so you might find yourself doing a lot of skipping.

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Weber F. J. Barros Jr.

Five Stars

February 16, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Everything went fine. It arrived undamaged

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David H. Eisenberg

Early enlightenment book

September 19, 2017

Format: Paperback

It was very hard to rate this. For a modern book, it is incredibly inconsistent and silly. But, for a 17th century book on the eve of the enlightenment, it is something. On the other hand, it was not exactly Bacon, Descartes, Montesquieu or Spinoza (etc.) either and I can't give it 5 stars. Read it more for its historical worth and as much as you need to.

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