Philosophaster

Philosophaster is a satirical play written by Robert Burton, a 17th-century English scholar and writer. The play follows the story of a young man named Philomathes, who is obsessed with philosophy and wants to become a great philosopher. However, he lacks the necessary knowledge and understanding of the subject, and instead relies on empty rhetoric and sophistry to impress others. Throughout the play, Philomathes encounters various characters who challenge his beliefs and expose his ignorance. These characters include a group of scholars who mock his pretensions, a wise old man who teaches him the importance of humility and self-knowledge, and a woman who exposes his flawed reasoning and hypocrisy. Through its witty dialogue and clever satire, Philosophaster explores the dangers of intellectual arrogance and the importance of genuine learning and self-reflection. It also offers a humorous critique of the academic world and the tendency of some scholars to prioritize reputation and status over genuine knowledge and understanding. Overall, Philosophaster is a thought-provoking and entertaining work of literature that continues to be studied and appreciated by scholars and readers today.An entertaining comedy replete with philosophy, alchemy, politics, and human nature from the author of the popular work: The Anatomy of Melancholy. Contents: Chronological Table; Philosophaster (original Latin with an English translation) Notes to Philosophaster; Facsimile of Burton’s Autograph; Burton’s Preface to Rider’s Dictionarie; Burton’s Poemata; Robert Burton’s Will; Wood’s Account of Burton.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.