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He was answered May 22, that the rector of the university, as well as the professors of the theo logical and philosophical faculties, had been. Called together, and strictly forbidden to make any mention of Descartes theories, whether to attack or defend them, and it was ex pected that he would engage in no further discussion of the theories which had been attacked. 1 The redress, therefore, consisted in this, that the theories which had been attacked should be considered Cartesian, and that his entire S3 r stem was laid under a kind of interdict in the University of Ley- den ; and, indeed, the philosopher himself required to submit to this regulation. Aroused by the injustice and unreason ableness of this procedure, Descartes replied to the magis trates, saying that he had probably not understood them ; it was to him perfectly indifferent whether his name was men tioned in the University of Leyden, or not ; but for the sake of his reputation, he must demand the declaration that the theories which had been attacked were not his. 1 " Am I a Herostratus, that people are forbidden to mention me ? " he wrote at that time to one of his friends in Holland. prev next |