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Four Hundred Years of Freethought, Part 1

Samuel Porter Putnam

English United States History Philosophy Science Social Sciences Society & Culture

· Publishes daily

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~every 1 day

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20m

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Mar 29, 2026

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About the Show

Join Samuel Putnam on an enlightening journey through European literature that flourished after the globe was circumnavigated and the printing press revolutionized access to books. This exploration encourages us to think critically and question established norms beyond religious confines and local customs. Beginning with the visionary Giordano Bruno, Putnam weaves through the ideas of influential philosophers like Spinoza, Descartes, and Locke, while also examining the profound impacts of the discovery of America, the French and American Revolutions, and Americas Civil War. He highlights notable playwrights such as Shakespeare and agnostics like Ingersoll and Paine, as well as the evolution of thought in poetry, geology, politics, ethics, and womens emancipation. By the 1890s, the effects of freethought on Western civilization become clear, as Putnams accessible yet profound narrative invites listeners to reflect on their own understanding of humanity. (Summary by Michele Fry, BC)