Sooth the imagination
"The ‘History’ [History of Astronomy by Adam Smith] considers ‘all the different systems of nature’ that have been adopted in the ‘western parts of the world’. Rather than constructing this history as a narrative of progress from darkness, superstition and ignorance to Enlightenment and truth, Smith instead puts truth and truth claims entirely to one side. He is interested only in ‘how far each [system] was fitted to sooth the imagination, and to render the theatre of nature a more coherent, and therefore a more magnificent spectacle, than otherwise it would have appeared to be’" (Jonathan Conlin, Critical Lives-Adam Smith)
I couldn't figure the emphasized phrases out, what do they mean?
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alibey1917 I couldn't figure the emphasized phrases out, what do they mean? I am pretty sure that "sooth" should be "soothe". He is quoting Smith, and "soothe" was spelled "sooth" back then.
- alibey1917 I couldn't figure the emphasized phrases out, what do they mean?
- I am pretty sure that "sooth" should be "soothe".
- He is quoting Smith, and "soothe" was spelled "sooth" back then.
- alibey1917 sooth the imagination, He means that Smith wanted only to comfort the reader.
- alibey1917 otherwise it would have appeared to be That is old-fashioned grammar.
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alibey1917I couldn't figure the emphasized phrases out, what do they mean?
I am pretty sure that "sooth" should be "soothe". He is quoting Smith, and "soothe" was spelled "sooth" back then.
alibey1917 sooth the imagination,
He means that Smith wanted only to comfort the reader.
alibey1917
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