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Four Hundred Years of Freethought, Part 1

Samuel Porter Putnam

English United States History Philosophy Science Social Sciences Society & Culture

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140

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22m

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Mar 01, 2026

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About the Show

Join Samuel Putnam on an enlightening journey through European literature that emerged in the wake of global exploration and the advent of the printing press. This pivotal shift fostered a spirit of inquiry that transcended the Bible and local traditions. In this first part, we explore the evolution of education and our understanding of the universe, touching on astronomy, physics, philosophy, and human nature beyond religious confines. Starting with the visionary Giordano Bruno, Putnam navigates through an eclectic mix of philosophers, including Spinoza, Descartes, and Locke, while also examining key historical events like the discovery of America and the revolutionary spirit of the French and American Revolutions. He reflects on the impact of notable playwrights, agnostics, and poets, as well as themes of geology, evolution, politics, ethics, and womens emancipation, assessing the profound influence of freethought in the Western world by the 1890s. Putnams engaging prose is both accessible and deeply thought-provoking. (Summary by Michele Fry, BC)