Page:A biographical dictionary of modern rationalists.djvu/404

 SICILIANI

SIDNEY

Lectures &quot;). It contains an interesting naturalistic theory of the origin of religion as well as a very able historical account of the dissolution of Christianity.

SICILIANI, Professor Pietro, Italian philosopher. B. Sep. 19, 1835. Sicilian! was professor at the University of Bologna, and a very outspoken Positivist and Eation- alist (see his Socialismo, Sul Renovimento, etc.). His Eationalist views are chiefly given in his Modern Psychogeny (1882). D. Dec. 28, 1885.

SIDGWICK, Professor Henry, philo sopher. B. May 31, 1838. Ed. Black- heath, Eugby, and Cambridge (Trinity College). In his brilliant career at Cam bridge Sidgwick won the Bell scholarship, Craven scholarship, Greek epigram prize, and Chancellor s medal. In 1857 he became a fellow and assistant tutor of his college. Although he was the son of a clergyman and cousin of Archbishop Benson (who had much influence on him at Eugby), he joined eagerly in discussion of religion at Cambridge and developed Eationalistic views. He was greatly influenced by J. S. Mill s works. He learned Arabic and Hebrew in order to study comparative religion thoroughly. In 1869 he was appointed lecturer on moral philosophy at Cambridge, but he resigned on account of the religious tests. These tests were abolished in 1871, and a few years later Sidgwick became praslector on moral and political philosophy. In 1883 he was appointed Knightsbridge professor. He was one of the chief founders of Newnham Hall, and in 1881 he secured the admission of women to university examinations. From 1882 to 1899 he was a member of the General Board of Studies, and from 1890 to 1898 on the Council of the Senate. His chief works are Methods of Ethics (1874), Principles of Political Economy (1883), and Elements of Politics (1891). Lord Morley observes in his Recollections that Sidgwick &quot; broke with orthodox Christianity in an early stage of his life, and seems to 735

have made no return to it &quot; (i, 123). This is confirmed in the memoir written by A. and Mrs. E. M. Sidgwick (his widow). They quote a letter in which Sidgwick tells Tennyson, in 1895, that he is &quot; more sceptical and less Christian &quot; than Tenny son is ; and he adds : &quot; This more sceptical attitude has remained mine throughout life&quot; (H. Sidgwick, 1906, p. 538). It is also shown that the interest he at one time had in Spiritualism evaporated after the exposure of E. Palladino. Dr. Gore and half-a-dozen bishops tried hard to induce him to die a Christian; but his widow remarks that, although he had a Church of England burial, &quot; his old hope of returning to the Church of his fathers had not been fulfilled.&quot; He was a Theist, and strongly opposed to aggression ; and his character was an inspiration to all who knew him. D. Aug. 28, 1900.

SIDNEY, Algernon, politician. B. 1622. Son of the second Earl of Northumberland, Sidney was educated at home, and was taken by his father, an ambassador, to Denmark in 1632 and to Paris in 1636. He entered the army and served in Ireland. In 1644 he enlisted in the Parliamentary forces against the king. He was appointed Governor of Chichesterin 1645, Lieutenant- General of the Horse in Ireland in 1647, and Governor of Dover in 1648. Although he was on the commission for the trial of Charles I, he took no part in it, and was opposed to the execution. He regarded Cromwell as a usurper and tyrant, and remained out of public life. At the restora tion of monarchy he went abroad. He received permission in 1677 to come home and attend to his affairs ; but he remained in England and engaged in Eepublican intrigues. The thousand guineas which he is known to have received from France were spent entirely on the public work for which he received it. He was arrested in 1683, and, after a disgraceful trial by Judge Jeffreys, was sentenced to be beheaded. In an &quot;Apology&quot; which Sidney wrote just before his death he said that he 736