The Vanity of Dogmatizing by Joseph Glanvill

Bibliographic Note

The Vanity of Dogmatizing, the first work of Joseph Glanvill to 

be printed, was published in 1661. It probably appeared around March 

of that year since the dedicatory epistle, which also gives some 

account of its composition, is dated March 1, 1660. (In those days 

the year began on 25th March; so 1 March 1660 by Glanvill's reckoning 

is 1 March 1661 by ours.)

The second edition is entitled Scepsis scientifica: or, Confest 

ignorance the way to science . . . (&c.), and is dated 1665, though 

it was presented to the Royal Society in December 1664.

The two editions are much the same except for some 

rearrangements, minor stylistic changes, and slight omissions and 

additions. Of these omissions, the one of most general interest is 

the story on which Matthew Arnold based his Scholar-Gypsy. The 

second edition does not contain the dedicatory epistle addressed to 

Joseph Mynard, the Preface to the reader (a part of which, however, 

was recast to form chapter III of the Scepsis), or the three 

commendatory verses. In place of these the Scepsis Scientifica 

contains the long dedicatory epistle addressed to the Royal Society. 

Following the main treatise in the Scepsis scientifica there is 

added a reply to Thomas White's Sciri, sine sceptices & scepticorum 

a jure disputations exclusio (1663), which had attacked The Vanity 

of Dogmatizing.

The final version of The Vanity of Dogmatizing is that in 

Glanvill's Essays on Several Important Subjects in Philosophy and 

Religion (1676). The first essay in this volume, Against confidence 

in philosophy, and matters of speculation, is in the main a reprint 

of the principal discourse as it appeared in the Scepsis 

Scientifica, with further omissions and slight rearrangements. The 

essay begins with the third chapter of The Vanity of Dogmatizing 

(the fourth of the Scepsis Scientifica), the dropping of these 

preliminary chapters being the only alteration in material of any 

consequence. Of decided importance, however, are the stylistic 

changes, which are complete and thoroughgoing.

This edition has been created by combining the full text of the 

second edition (taken from an 1885 reprint by Kegan Paul, Trench & 

Co.) with the dedicatory epistle, introduction, three poetical 

testimonials and the story of the Scholar-Gypsy, in the first 

edition (taken from a facsimile published by the Facsimile Text 

Society, 1931). The spelling has been modernized.

The Dedicatory Epistle

To the reverend my ever honoured friend, Mr. JOSEPH MYNARD, 

B.D.

SIR; 

I dare not approach so much knowledge, as you are owner of, but 

in the dress of an humble ignorance. The lesser Sporades must veil 

their light in the presence of the Monarch Luminary; and to appear 

before you with any confidence of science, were an unpardonable 

piece of dogmatizing. Therefore whatever be thought of the discourse 

itself, it cannot be censured in this application; and though the 

pedant may be angry with me, for shaking his endeared opinions; yet 

be cannot but approve of this appeal to one, whose very name would 

reduce a sceptick. If you give your vote against dogmatizing: 'tis 

time for the opinionative world, to lay down their proud 

pretensions: and if such known accomplishments acknowledge 

ignorance; confidence will be out of countenance; and the sciolist 

will write on his most presumed certainty; this is also vanity. 

Whatever in this discourse is less consonant to your severer  

apprehensions, I beg it may be the object of your charity, and 

candour. I Betake my self to the protection of your ingenuity, from 

the pursuits of your judicious censure. And were there not a benign 

warmth, as well ss light attended you, 'twere a bold venture to come 

within your beams. Could I divine wherein you differ from me; I 

should be strongly indeced to note that with a deleatur; and revenge 

the presumption, by differing from my present self. If anything seem 

to favour too much of the Pyrrhonian: I hope you'll consider, that 

Scepticism is less reprehensible in enquiring years, and no crime in 

a juvenile exercitation. But I have no design against science: my 

endeavour is to promote it. Confidence in uncertainties, is the 

greatest enemy to what is certain; and were I a sceptick, I'd plead 

for dogmatizing: for the way to bring men to stick to nothing, is 

confidently to persuade them to swallow all things.

The treatise in your hands is a fortuitous, undesigned