Sketches of imposture, deception, and credulity

Name: Sketches of imposture, deception, and credulity
Author: R. A. Davenport

By R. A. Davenport

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

History - Other Psychiatry/Psychology

About This Book

An extended inquiry into human credulity and scepticism opens with reflections on how belief and doubt influence knowledge. The essays survey historical forms of imposture, ranging from ritualized oracle practices and manufactured miracles to prophetic pretenders and popular delusions, and catalog the social and theatrical techniques deceivers employ. Attention is given to the likeness of error to truth, the contagious spread of excitement and imitation, and practical stratagems used to exploit trust. The collection closes by tracing the gradual advance of more rational inquiry while acknowledging persistent superstitions and contemporary examples of charlatanism.

About the Author

R. A. Davenport

R. A. Davenport was an author known for his explorations of themes related to deception and historical narratives. His notable works include "Sketches of Imposture, Deception, and Credulity," which delves into the nature of fraud and belief, and "The History of the Bastile, and of Its Principal Captives," a detailed account of the infamous prison and its notable inmates. Davenport's writings reflect a keen interest in the interplay between truth and illusion, contributing to the literary discourse of his time.