Project Gutenberg 2004-01-01 Public domain in the USA. 435 Bury, J. B. (John Bagnell) 1861 1927 Bury, John Bagnell A History of Freedom of Thought Home University Library of Modern Knowledge, No. 69 Produced by Jeffrey Kraus-yao. "A History of Freedom of Thought" by J. B. Bury is a historical account written during the early 20th century. The book explores the evolution of the concept of free thought throughout history, particularly focusing on the struggles between authority and reason from ancient civilizations through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Bury discusses how societal and religious forces have often suppressed critical thinking and expression, illustrating the gradual emergence of rationalism as a significant force in the development of human knowledge and individual liberty. The opening of the book introduces the fundamental notion that while individuals may think freely, the real measure of freedom lies in their ability to express and share those thoughts without fear of suppression. Bury highlights the inherent tensions present in society, where new ideas are often met with hostility due to fear of change and disruption to established norms. He explains that the development of free thought is intertwined with the battle against traditional authority, exploring philosophical underpinnings as well as social and political ramifications. Bury sets the stage for an examination of historical figures and movements that have either championed or battled against freedom of thought, effectively capturing the essence of the struggle for intellectual independence. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 55.6 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en Free thought -- History Rationalism -- History BL Text Browsing: History - General Browsing: Philosophy & Ethics 375290 2025-06-05T04:19:13.027369 text/html 372477 2021-03-03T03:44:55 text/html; charset=utf-8 219536 2025-06-05T04:19:19.683320 application/epub+zip 218208 2025-06-05T04:19:15.005367 application/epub+zip 218207 2025-06-05T04:19:13.769376 application/epub+zip 400954 2025-06-05T04:19:23.489302 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 372897 2025-06-05T04:19:18.892361 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 332858 2022-09-05T09:24:51.436270 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 348896 2023-10-05T06:40:19.572469 text/plain 15809 2025-06-05T04:19:23.643306 application/rdf+xml 14884 2025-06-05T04:19:14.328342 image/jpeg 3779 2025-06-05T04:19:14.045362 image/jpeg 202281 2025-06-05T04:19:13.060368 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia