whichcote was one of the leaders of the cambridge platonists, and had liberal views. in 1650, he was involved in a controversy with his former teacher and friend anthony tuckney. he was opposed to the doctrine of total depravity and adopted a semi-pelagian position, holding that man is the "child of reason", and therefore not, as the puritans held, of a completely depraved nature. he argued that there are some questions beyond the ability of reasonable and religious people to solve, and he therefore argued for religious toleration. he was accused at various times by various persons of being an arminian, socinian, and latitudinarian.