J. M. (John Mackinnon) Robertson

J. M. (John Mackinnon) Robertson
John Mackinnon Robertson (1856–1933) was a Scottish journalist, politician, and writer, known for his contributions to secularism, rationalism, and literary criticism. He was a prominent member of the British freethought movement and wrote extensively on religion, philosophy, and history. Among his well-known works are "A Short History of Freethought" and "Pagan Christs," in which he challenged religious orthodoxy and examined the origins of Christian doctrines. Robertson also served as a Liberal Member of Parliament, advocating for free trade, educational reform, and women's suffrage.

Author's Books:


MONTAIGNE AND SHAKSPERE For a good many years past the anatomic study of Shakspere, of which a revival seems now on foot, has been somewhat out of fashion, as compared with its vogue in the palmy days of the New Shakspere Society in England, and the years of the battle between the iconoclasts and the worshippers in Germany. When Mr. Fleay and Mr. Spedding were hard at work on the metrical tests; when... more...

§ 1. THE TERM The names ‘rationalist’ and ‘rationalism’ have been used in so many senses within the past three hundred years that they cannot be said to stand quite definitely for any type or school of philosophic thought. For Bacon, a ‘rationalist’ or rationalis was a physician with a priori views of disease and bodily function; and the Aristotelian humanists of the Helmstadt school were... more...