Philosopher

Henry More

Metaphysics

Henry More (1614 to 1687) was an English theologian and philosopher, born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, who spent his working life as a fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. He is usually grouped with the Cambridge Platonists, though his philosophical theology of the 1650s and 1660s was largely his own. Indebted to Neoplatonic thought, he embraced Cartesian mechanism early on and then turned against it, using the details of the new science to argue for immaterial substance and so for the existence of God. He is best known for his Spirit of Nature, an intermediary between God and the world meant to explain what mechanism could not, and for an infinite absolute space that carried some divine attributes. Later work moved through Kabbalism, Quakerism and a necessitarian theology.

Facts
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Gender
Male 2
Tradition Family
Western 2
Role in Life
Academic 2
Birth Year
1614 2
Death Year
1687 2
Tradition
Tradition (category)
Platonism 1
Connections

Associated With

Neoplatonism, Schools of Philosophy
Source Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Rationalism, Schools of Philosophy
Source Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

In Branch

Metaphysics, Branches of Philosophy
Source Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

In Tradition

Platonism, Schools of Philosophy
Source Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Influenced By

Rene Descartes, Philosophers
Source Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
In the Other Atlases

Nationality

United Kingdom

Also in History Atlas: the nationality of this subject.

Source Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Lead, nationality
Quote, Lead, nationality
Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 12 October 1614

Originated In

England

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Life and works, birth
Quote, Life and works, birth
Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 12 October 1614
Sources
1. 1001Philosophers: 1001 Philosophers: Henry More
1001PhilosophersLead, movements
Quote, Lead, movements
was an English philosopher of the Modern era, associated with Platonism and Early Modern Philosophy
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2. Henry More (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
  • Lead, life dates
    Henry More (1614-1687), theologian, and philosopher
  • Life and works
    More was the seventh son of Alexander More
  • Life and works, role in life
    was made a fellow of the college in 1641
  • Lead, tradition
    heavily indebted to Neoplatonic thought
  • Lead, nationality
    Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 12 October 1614
  • Life and works, birth
    Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 12 October 1614
  • In Branch: Metaphysics, Lead, branch
    to establish the existence of immaterial substance, or spirit and, therefore, God
  • Associated With: Neoplatonism, Lead, school
    heavily indebted to Neoplatonic thought
  • Associated With: Rationalism, Lead, school
    More is notable as a rationalist theologian
  • Influenced By: Rene Descartes, Life and works, influences
    More initially seized upon Cartesianism so keenly
  • In Group: Renaissance And Early Modern, Lead, placement
    the Cambridge Platonists
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