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Natural Theology (Oxford World's Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: William Paley
Creators: Matthew D. Eddy, David Knight
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $7.65
You Save: $8.30 (52%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 338688
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 0.8
ISBN: 0199535752
Dewey Decimal Number: 210
EAN: 9780199535750
ASIN: 0199535752
Publication Date: May 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: In stock - Immediate despatch from an efficient and professional leading British bookselling firm.
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Product Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Intelligent Design is not a Recent Invention May 17, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
Classic of Science & Religion May 2, 2005
17 out of 21 found this review helpful
Paley's argument for a designer is relevant to any historical discussion on the origins debate. The Coachwhip Publications 2005 reprint edition (ISBN 1930585217) is inexpensive and contains an additional bibliography of more recent teleological arguments.
 Historically relevant February 19, 2003
17 out of 30 found this review helpful
William Paley sure was an intelligent man. His reasoning was flawless and his knowledge ample (he knew a lot considering the knowledge of his time). Unfortunately , Paley lived before Darwin published "The origin of species" and like any other priest of his time (and the vast majority of the people in his time too) he believed God had nicely fix every little detail so he and all human kind would live in a perfectly "fit for human" world. He believed in the design of the "superior being" (God, of course) and he nicely explained it at the beginning of Natural Theology. This is a must to anyone interested in the evolution of evolutionary thought, and wants to know about one strong theological basis Victorians had opposing evolution.
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