Natural Theology (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

William Paley (Author), Matthew D. Eddy (Editor), David Knight (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Oxford World's Classics | Publication Date: June 15, 2006

In Natural Theology William Paley set out to prove the existence of God from the evidence of the beauty and order of the natural world. Famously beginning by comparing the world to a watch, whose design is self-evident, he goes on to provide examples from biology, anatomy, and astronomy in order to demonstrate the intricacy and ingenuity of design that could only come from a wise and benevolent deity.
This new edition, which coincides with the bicentennial of Paley's death, reprints the original text of 1802, which was very influential in its day, and still controversial in ours as we see a resurgence in the debate between"intelligent design" and "creationism." The introduction explains how the book built on the early modern natural theology tradition and why it was so influential. The book also contains two appendixes on Paley's courses, an extended bibliography, and full notes offering further background on the key figures of the day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is an astonishing book, made all the more accessible by some excellent modern footnotes John Habgood, Church TImes

About the Author

Matthew D. Eddy is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Durham. David Knight has edited the British Journal for the History of Science and served as President of the British Society for the History of Science.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192805843
• ISBN-13: 978-0192805843
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,853,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent Design is not a Recent Invention, May 17, 2007

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Ronald H. Clark (WASHINGTON, DC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Natural Theology (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

This Oxford World's Classics edition of William Paley's (1743-1805) most famous work is a handy way to become acquainted with the theory of Natural Theology that played such a major role in Victorian intellectual circles--at least until Darwin published his "Origin of the Species" in 1859. This edition reproduces the text of the first edition published in 1802. Equally important, it contains a highly helpful introduction by editors Matthew D. Eddy and David Knight which places the book within the context of Victorian thought prior to Darwin. "Natural Theology is the practice of inferring the existence and wisdom of God from the order and beauty of the world," write the editors. Its most familiar version is Deism (or belief in a remote creator), which combines Newton's concept of physical laws with the idea of a clock--God creates the clock but allows it to function on its own. The editors explain the history of this idea prior to Paley, and how given the scepticism of individuals like Gibbon, Hume, Diderot and Voltaire, Natural Theology was pressed into service to fight off what were seen as attacks on Christianity. Paley's work was tremendously popular and read well into the 18th century. God is seen as benevolent and concerned with ensuring the happiness of the human race, such as by creating "pleasure" for example. Robert Chambers "Vestiges," the Bridgewater Treatises, and other key examples of Victorian grappling with these issues is discussed, and the stage is set for Darwin who wrote "Origins" 50 years or so after Paley's death (but had read him). In addition to this fine introduction, this edition contains a bibliography, chronology, and suggestions for further reading. Particularly helpful are 48 pages of "Explanatory Notes" contributed by the editors which identify and explain key individuals, concepts, and books. Oh, and of course, Paley well anticipated the current intelligent design argument, which we learn even predates him. Is there anything new under the sun? I wonder.

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific forward, January 25, 2012

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PJR (Minneapolis, Minnesota United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Natural Theology (Paperback)

The forward by Doy Moyer is excellent and will be essential reading for those interested in natural theology or even those involved on either side of the current "intelligent design" crusade. The "argument from design" came from the pagans and was taken up by some Christians a thousand years later. Then especially after Newton it had a very popular but contested history, which is nicely sketched and introduced by Moyer in relatively few pages considering the long history and conceptual difficulties with natural theology. To read the text without context for it (which Moyer does assist) and without understanding why over time natural theology was rejected (which Moyer does not go much into) would be quite naive. And yet this was an immensely influential book in its day and helped stimulate Darwin to think deeply about the misleading appearance of design in biological nature and dissect out fatal problems with these old ideas.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darwin's Muse, August 9, 2011

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Camilla Davis "It's a beautiful day!" (Greensboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Natural Theology (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Ronald H. Clark, who reviewed this work before I did, was most eloquent and thorough in his summary. I will not attempt to recreate anything like it here but I will say that I endorse everything Mr. Clark said. In addition, this was a hugely important book, and very exciting, in that Paley was such an influential figure in Darwin's life. It was thrilling to be able to read one of the books that set Darwin to thinking about how humans came to be here (and how they did not come to be here). If you are a student of evolution, Natural Theology is a natural choice in reading material which will give you more insight into Darwin's mind, and the zeitgeist of the era in which he worked.