#WilliamMolyneux, philosopher, born in Dublin #otd 1656. Creator of "Molyneux's problem", writer on natural and political philosophy.

#DIB https://www.dib.ie/biography/molyneux-molyneaux-william-a5878

Molyneux's "The Case of Ireland" https://www.irishphilosophy.com/2017/10/11/the-case-of-ireland/

#IrishPhilosophyOTD

Edward Synge (1659-1741); bishop of Tuam, writer of a reply to Toland's Christianity Not Mysterious, preacher of toleration, was born #OTD in Inishannon, Co Cork in 1659.

#DIB bio: https://www.dib.ie/biography/synge-edward-a8427

He provided the first positive answer to #MolyneuxsProblem, and #WilliamMolyneux wrote of it to Locke, and of Synge as the writer of "A Gentleman's Religion", sold as a work of Locke!

Synge's answer to #JohnToland: https://www.irishphilosophy.com/2016/04/06/belief-and-the-blind-man/

#IrishPhilosophyOTD #EdwardSyngeII

#Hobbes (born #OTD 1588) had a bad reputation. Possibly worse in Ireland: Thomas Molyneux (brother of #WilliamMolyneux) was scandalized by a bust of Hobbes being given a prominent spot in the Royal Society.

The Royal Society had obviously got past Hobbes's attack on #RobertBoyle's treatise on the air pump https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/thomas-hobbes

Hobbes had earlier disputed (while both were in Paris) with John Bramhall, Bishop of Derry, over free will and necessity.

https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2019/02/hobbes-bramhall-liberty-necessity-nayeli-riano.html

#IrishPhilosophy

#Hobbes (born #OTD 1588) had a bad reputation. Possibly worse in Ireland: Thomas Molyneux (brother of #WilliamMolyneux) was scandalized by a bust of Hobbes being given a prominent spot in the Royal Society.

The Royal Society had obviously got past Hobbes's attack on #RobertBoyle's treatise on the air pump https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/thomas-hobbes

#IrishPhilosophy

This is rather lovely: "Locke Unlocked – A Look at John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" from #LaurenceSterneTrust

Six vignettes ask the viewer to consider enduring philosophical problems (as featured in the philosophy of #Locke).

Audio commentary is provided by Peter Millican and Tim Crane with Locke’s words read by Victoria Jenner. Transcripts are also provided.

https://www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk/2022/07/05/locke-unlocked-a-look-at-john-lockes-an-essay-concerning-human-understanding/

Below: vignette for Molyneux's Problem (as posed by #WilliamMolyneux).

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? #WilliamMolyneux wanted a popular version of Newton's #Principia.

For #Newton 's birthday, here's an extract from a letter from Molyneux (Dublin) to Hans Sloane (born in Killyleagh, living in London), expressing how valuable such a thing would be and hinting "if therefore by your Advice and Incouragement any of the Curious Witts of Lond[on] could be put upon such an undertaking, I should think it very wel worth his Pains."

https://www.irishphilosophy.com/2015/04/16/elucidations-newton/

#JohnToland became the Republican Mythmaker via contacts he made in Dublin before he left in a hurry.

His arrival had triggered much writing refuting his #ChristianityNotMysterious (and a series of letters between #Locke and #WilliamMolyneux, which form the basis for the post below).

This controversary was the trigger for the #IrishEnlightenment.

Incendiary: John Toland and the birth of the Irish Enlightenment http://irishphilosophy.com/2013/09/18/incendiary-toland/
#IrishPhilosophy