Pantheisticon, or the Form of Celebrating the Socratic Society

 

 By J. Toland. Distributor: Lulu. $24.99. 214 pages. Paperback UT. 2016 (1751).

 

John Toland (1670–1722) was a rationalist philosopher and the first person called a freethinker. Along with the introduction of the free-thinking concept, his work is seminal in the use of exotericism and esotericism as he emphasises exoteric philosophy—what one says publicly about religion—from esoteric philosophy—what one confides to trusted friends. In truth, Toland was a man not of his time and his work remains to be explored by all who chose to knock of chips from a rough ashlar by the gavel of critical thinking.

Toland's Pantheisticon remains a work to explore and evaluate. In it, there is mention of the Pantheist association and of its rituals. Were there actually Pantheist associations meeting and performing these rituals? Also, we are faced with the striking analogies of the dialogues found in the Pantheisticon and those of the masonic rituals published later.

The purpose of this edition is to provide material for thought and invite further inqueries into those questions. In that regard, one may also want to consult ‘Le Pantheisticon de Toland et les sodalités socratiques’ in C. Janet’s Les précurseurs de la franc-maçonnerie (1887, 2016 Ed.)

"He was an assertor of liberty, a lover of all sorts of learning … but no man’s follower or dependent. Nor could frowns or fortune bend him to decline from the ways he had chosen."

This edition adds to the original (a) a list of work of the author and the lists of work cited and (b) the Annexes consisting of supportive material: (1) the Latin original, (2) Dr. Combie’s remarks on Sodalis and (3) Review of the Pantheisticon (in French).

 

Contents

 

  • [Notes from Eric Serejski]
  • [Lectori Philomuso & Philalethi]
  • Of the ancient and modern SOCIETIES of the Learned.
  • Form of Celebrating the Socratic-Society
    • [First Part]
    • [Second Part]
    • [Third Part]
  • [Of a Two-fold Philosophy]
  • [Annexes]
    • 1. Latin original
      • [Introducio]
      • De antiquis et novis eruditorum sodalitatibus
      • Formulae celebrandae sodalitatis socraticae
      • [Nota]
      • De duplici pantheistarum philosophia sequenda
    • 2. On Sodalis – Dr. Crombie’s remarks
      • Sodalis.
      • Sodalis.–Answers to Dr. Crombie’s remarks 2.
      • [Comites et nubere]
    • 3. Biblioteque angloise. Volume VIII. 285–321
      • Biography
      • Bibliography and additional readings
      • Bibliography
      • Additional Readings