Understanding the Pantheism Controversy

Abstract

This chapter briefly introduces some of the main figures and themes of the pantheism controversy. It is an introduction which inevitably shows the traces of my own interests in analysing this material, particularly my intention to utilize it in an analysis of Coleridge. As such, I am consciously focusing on the figures that Coleridge focused on, and leaving out many others. Moreover, this chapter serves as an introduction to the other three chapters that make up Part II, so that many of the issues touched on here are expanded on in the subsequent chapters, in relation to Coleridge’s understanding of them.