Over his lifetime in the 17th century, Sir Thomas Browne tried to make sense of religion, reason and the mystery of creation. Reviewing a newly released collection of his work, Alexander Nazaryan finds relief in Browne's doubt:
The pervasive uncertainty of Browne’s writing offers a respite from the stifling certainties of today. We have religious zealots, just as the seventeenth century did—but we also have zealots of so many more varieties. We have had the end of history and the death of faith. Civilizations clashed, everything is post-something. Cassandras say we are digital drones; Panglosses say the Internet is freedom. We believe in St. Paul Krugman or St. Paul Gigot. Anyone who says we are a society lacking belief is not paying attention. If anything, we are lacking doubt.
Browne, who counselled with intimations of Ecclesiastes that “it is a vanity to waste our dayes in the blinde pursuit of knowledge” is an antidote to all this—to doomsayers and optimists and all those who prey on the human need to understand. He knew very little. We should all be so wise.
The Dish 