Modern Materialism
While in jail, Knowlton formulated ideas that he eventually published as Elements of Modern Materialism in 1829. The book challenges the religious dualism of body and spirit, and Knowlton presents a psychological theory that’s been described as “early behaviorism.” Knowlton moved his family to North Adams, Massachusetts in 1827, to be closer to a printer. In the summer of 1829, he took a “one-horse load” of books down to New York city. He failed to sell any, but probably visited local freethinkers like Robert Dale Owen. Knowlton named his second son Stephen Owen, after his father and his friend. Knowlton was convinced Modern Materialism would make him as famous as John Locke, who he quotes on the title page.
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