This chart, adapted from one used by the late Prof. Henry K. Miller of Princeton University, deliberately reduces the complexities of 18th-C thought to artificial polar opposites or norms. The views on the left (Renaissance, Christian Humanist) might roughly be described as "conservative" or "traditional" during this period; those on the right (Romantic, Naturalist), as "radical" or "progressive." The dominant prestige or emphasis moves slowly and uncertainly from left to right during the years 1660-1800, but more often than not, the old and the new remain in uneasy juxtaposition.
1. Conceptual Metaphor
The Great Chain of Being: The Hierarchy »» The Mathematical Machine: The Organism
2. Metaphysical Orientation
Ontological ("Being": relation to Universe) »» Epistemological (Process: Psychological individual)
3. Question of the Universe
Why? (Rationalism: Religion: Synthesis) »» What? How? (Empiricism: Science: Analysis)
4. Cosmology
Meaningful, finite Universe (Purposeful interlocking Universals: Macrocosm-microcosm) »» Scientific Universe, mechanical, infinite (Non-purposive Particulars)
5. Highest Wisdom
Ethical contemplation: Knowledge leads to Virtue »» Scientific experiment: Knowledge leads to Power
6. Philosophical Orientation
Theocentric (God-centered); but Man at center of God's Universe »» Anthropocentric ("Man the Measure"); but Man not focus of neutral Universe
7. Nature
The total spiritual, moral, material construct, structured by God »» External, physical phenomenon, separate from the mind, but a stimulus to subjective spiritual experience
8. View of "Reality"
Metaphysical "Realism" (Universals are real): Lower explained in terms of the higher »» Metaphysical "Nominalism" (only Particulars are real): Higher explained in terms of the lower
9. Natural Law
Normative (defining norms); Duties of Man »» Descriptive (describing effects); Rights of Man
10. Psychological Emphasis
Intuitive Reason and the Conscious Mind: Identity as essence »» Imagination and the (Unconscious) Irrational: Identity as state of mind
11. Ethics
Christian: prescriptive: absolute »» Benevolist, Utilitarian: descriptive: relative
12. Ethical Emphasis
Reason: Motives: Ends »» Emotion: Effects: Means
13. Moral Truth
Extrinsic: objective (in Divine Will) »» Intrinsic: subjective (in the Agent)
14. Moral Faculties
"Right Reason" and the Will (the Head) »» "Sensibility and the Will (the Heart)
15. Major Virtue
Caritas: Love of God and Man for the image of God »» "Natural Goodness"
16. Major Sin
Pride »» Sexual immorality
17. Dominant Group in the Church of England
(Latitudinarian) Anglo-Catholicism »» Evangelicism and "Broad Church"
18. Leading Heterodoxy
Dissent; Deism »» Methodism
19. Science: major focus
Astronomy, Physics »» Mathematics, Biology
20. Test of scientific truth
Congruity with basic norms »» Experiment
1. Conceptual Metaphor
The Land »» Money
2. Ruling Class
Aristocracy (landowners): hierarchy of classes »» Middle Class (moneyed oligarchy): fluid classes
3. Basic Economy
Agriculture »» Trade and Industry
4. Economic Theory
Mercantilism »» Laissez-Faire
5. Form of Capitalism
Individual production: capitalism in social-moral frame »» Factory production: finance capitalism
6. Attitude toward Business
"Low Mechanick Trade" »» The Dignity of Trade ("Merchants" distinguished from "Tradesmen")
7. Manners
"Renaissance" Gentleman: "masculine" orientation »» "Victorian" Gentleman: "feminine" orientation
8. Status of women
Hierarchical inferior: marriage as business deal »» Individual function in family: "companionate marriage"
1. Conceptual Metaphor
The Body and its Members »» The Individual versus the State
2. Political Entity
England (and Scotland) »» Great Britain and the British Empire
3. Government
Absolute Monarchy: Parliament subordinate: Authority descends »» Limited Monarchy: Parliamentary government, extended franchise; Authority ascends
4. Political Mentors
Cicero and Aristotle »» Machiavelli and Locke
5. Historical Orientation
Chronological Primitivism (looking to the Past: myth of the Golden Age) Teleology »» Cultural Primitivism (the spontaneous and "natural"); Progress (looking to the Future: Utopia, secular Millennium); Evolution
1. Conceptual Metaphor
The Mirror »» The Lamp
2. The Poet
Artificer, "maker," educated artist »» Seer, improviser, natural genius
3. Center of interest
The poem's subject »» The poet's mind
4. End of Poetry
Harmony: beauty; to please and teach »» Emotion: the sublime; to involve and uplift
5. Ideal Form
Epic »» Lyric
6. Verse Style
Blank verse; heroic couplet »» Blank verse; ode
7. Dominant Subject
The City: Man: public experience »» The Country: External Nature: private experience
8. Classical Model
Latin: Virgil »» Greek: Homer
9. Prose Fiction
Romance »» Novel
10. Characters of Fiction
Types, essences: fixed psychology »» Unique individuals: fluid, evolving psychology
11. Prose Style
"Senecan" formal styles »» "Ciceronian" middle style
12. Dramatic Form
Comedy of Wit; "Heroic" Tragedy »» Comedy of Sentiment; Melodrama
13. Press
Individual Essay-Journals »» Mass Public Newspapers and Magazines
14. Critical Emphasis
Formal (the work); Mimetic (the universe); Rhetorical (the audience psychology) »» Formal (the work); Expressive (the artist's psychology)
15. Critical Reference
Educated taste; tradition »» Individual genius; empathetic imagination
16. Classical Authority
Aristotle, Horace, Quintilian »» Plato, Longinus
17. Writing Method
Imitation »» Inspiration; Evolution