ABSTRACT
The chapter presents the separation of Alexander Pope's beliefs into the philosophical, religious and political divisions. In his politics he was by temperament and instinct a conservative, but for most of his life took as much care not to commit himself solely to the Tory party as he took not to draw special attention to his Catholicism. In his philosophical beliefs he was a clear and eclectic thinker, but avoided extreme or original positions. Pope was not a professionally trained philosopher. He was widely read in philosophy, but he was not formally educated in the logical study of either science, ethics or metaphysics. Pope inherited the popular Medieval and Renaissance idea, familiar in their day to both Chaucer and Shakespeare, of the Great Chain of Being. He inherited his faith from devoutly Catholic parents and a series of family priests who were appointed to educate him.
