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Reappraising Heinrich More: Beyond Triangles and Dominoes

George Martin

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Preventing Industrial Accidents: Reappraising H. W. Heinrich – More than Triangles and Dominoes

by Carsten Busch

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Heinrich More (1614-1687) is often remembered as a minor figure in the history of philosophy, overshadowed by his more famous contemporaries such as Descartes, Hobbes, and Locke. However, a growing body of scholarship has begun to challenge this view, arguing that More was a significant and original thinker in his own right.

More was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, in 1614. He studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he came under the influence of the Platonist philosopher Ralph Cudworth. More's own philosophy was deeply influenced by Platonism, but he also drew on a wide range of other sources, including Aristotle, the Stoics, and the Christian Neoplatonists.

More's philosophy is often divided into three main areas: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. In metaphysics, More argued that the universe is a hierarchical system of beings, with God at the top and matter at the bottom. He also developed a theory of hylemorphism, which held that all physical objects are composed of both matter and form.

In epistemology, More argued that we can have certain knowledge of the external world through our senses. However, he also believed that our senses can deceive us, and that we must therefore rely on reason to correct the errors of our senses.

In ethics, More argued that the highest good is happiness, which he defined as the contemplation of God. He also developed a theory of virtue, which held that the virtues are habits of the soul that lead to happiness.

More's philosophy was highly influential in his own lifetime, and it continued to be studied and discussed in the centuries that followed. However, his reputation declined in the 19th century, when he was dismissed as a mere 'Cambridge Platonist'.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in More's philosophy. Scholars have begun to recognize the originality and significance of his thought, and his work is now being studied by a wide range of scholars in philosophy, religion, and history.

The following are some of the reasons why More's philosophy is worth reappraising:

More was a highly original thinker who made significant contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.
More's philosophy is still relevant to contemporary debates in philosophy, such as the debate over the nature of reality and the debate over the foundations of knowledge.
More's philosophy is a valuable resource for understanding the history of philosophy, particularly the history of British philosophy.

, Heinrich More was a significant and original thinker whose philosophy deserves to be reappraised. His work is a valuable resource for understanding the history of philosophy and for contemporary debates in philosophy.