Natural Theology

381 Pages·2006·9.71 MB·English

by  William Paley, Matthew D. Eddy, David Knight

OXFORD WORLD'S CLASSICS
OXFORDW ORLD'CSL ASSICS
NATURATLH EOLOGY
WILLIPAAMEL Yw asb orinnP eterboirn1o 7u4gH3hi. sfa thewra sa
clergwyhmoba enc aamh ee admaIsn1t 7e5rh9.ew enttoC hriCsotl'lse ge,
Cambriwdhgeehr,eew ons cholaarnspdhr iipzasen gsdr, a duaasSt eendi or
Wrangtlhbeeer ss,tt u doefhn iytse ianrt hper estmiagtihoeumsca otuircsael.
Hew aosr daidneeadci on1n 7 6a6n,ed l ecatf eedlo lfoh wic so llTehgeer.e
withhifr si eJnodh Lna wh eu ndertteoaockhe isnpge,co ifma olrlpayhl i l­
osopIhny1 .7 7L5a wfa'tsh eErd,m unBdi,s hoofCp a rloiffselrePe,ad l ey
ap osatsav icIan1r 7.7h 6el eCfatm briadnmgdae r,r JiaenHdee wiItn1t 7.8 5
hep ubliTshhPeer di ncoifMp olreaasln Pdo liPthiciallo sboapshoeyndh, i s
Cambrildegcet Iutrs eoslv.de rwye laln,md a dhei nsa maesa c leaanrd
acceswsriibtHleewer a .ps r omottobe eAd r chdeoafCc aornl Iin1s 7l9eh1.i s
widfiee lde,a vhiinwmgi tehi gchhti ltdobr reinun pga, n idn1 79h5em arried
CatheDroibniena ssho isnse cownidfT eh.em yo vetdoB ishWoepa rmoau th,
well-enpdaorwiweshdhe h,re es petnhtre e osfht i lsi fe.
Palpeuyb liEsvhieddeo nfCc hersi stiin1a 7n9ia4tn yid rt a pibdelcyaa m e
clasdseiaclw,ii nttghhfu el filmoefpn rto phmeicrya,ac nltdeh sre,e liaobfi lity
thBei bNlaet.u rTahleo laopgyp eairn1e 8d0A 2s.a c lasstsaitc eomfte hnet
argumfoerin ntt eldleisgiiegwntnat ,as h ugseu ccaensadsm ,a jsopru tro
CharDlaersw itnh'isn kPianldgei.yei dnL incion1l 8n0 5.
MATTHEDW.E DDiYsL ectuirnte hHrei staonrPdyh ilosoofSp chiye nce
anadn a ssoocfit haCete en tforrte h Hei stoofMr eyd icainnDdei seaatts hee
UniveorfDs uirthya Hmeh. a mso srte cehnetlfldey l loawtst hhDieip bsn er
Insti(tMuItTHe)a ,r vaUrndi vertshiMeta yxP, l anIcnks tifotrtu htee
HistoofrS yc ie(nBceer lainndw) i,tt hh Uen iverosfNi ottyrD ea me's
ErasmIunss tiHteuh tawesr. i tntuemne raorutsi ocnle eisg hteaenndt h-
nineteentihn-tceelnlhteiucsrttyMuo oarslyrt .e cehneth layes d it(ewdi th
DavMi.dK nigShcti)ea nncBdee liFerfio:Nm a tuPrhaill ostooNp ahtyu ral
Scie1n7c0e0-,1 90(02 00a5nhd)e i sc urrewnrtiltayib nogoo knt hien ter­
actiboent wemeend icpihniel,o saonpdgh eyo,l iongE yn lightenment
Edinburgh.
DAVIMD.K NIGHiTEs m eriPtruosf eosfts hHoeir s taonrPdyh ilosofo phy
Scieanttc hUeen iveorfDs uirthyaH meh. a esd ittheBedr itJiosuhrfo nrat lh e
HistoofrS yc ieanncesd,e rvaesPd r esiodfte hnBetr itSioschifo ertt yh e
HistoofSr cyi eInn1c 9e9.a7 n 1d9 9h8ew aasw arpdreidbz yet shT ee mple­
toFno undafotrih oicnso urosnSe c ieanncdRe e liignit ohnne i neteenth
centaunridyn2 , 0 0h3er ecetihvAeem de riCchaenm iScoacli eEtdyel'sst ein
AwarfodrH istoofrC yh emisHtehr ayps.u blinsuhmeedr woourskh si;s
single-abuotoihknoscr leAudtd oema sn dE leme(n1t9s6 T7h)eN, a tuorfe
Scie(n1c9e7O 6r)d,e rtihWneog r (l1d9 8T1h)Aeg, eo fS cie(n1c9e8N 6a)t,ur al
ScieBnocoeki snE ngli16s0h0-,1 90(01 98S9c)i,ei nnct ehR eo manEtrai c
(199a8nS)dc ,i eanncSdep irit(u2a0l0i4t)y.
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OXFORD WORLD'S CLASSICS
WILLIAM PALEY
Natural Theology
or
Evidence of the Existence and Attributes
of the Deity, collected from the
appearances of nature
Edited with an Introduction and Notes by
MATTHEW D. EDDY and DAVID KNIGHT
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
OXFORD
VNIVERSPIRTEYS S
GreCalta reSntdroeOnex tfo,ro dx 26 DP
OxforUdn ivePrrseiistassyd epartomfte hnUetn iveorfOs xifotryd .
Itfu rthtehrUesn iverosbijteyco'tfesi x vcee lilnre ensceeas rcchho,l arship,
anedd ucabtypi uobnl iwsohrilndgiw ni de
OxforNde wY ork
AucklCaanpdTe o wnD aersS alaHaomn Kgo nKga rachi
KuaLluam puMra drMiedl bouMrenxeiC ciotN ya irobi
NewD elShhia ngThaaiipT eoir onto
Witohffi ceisn
ArgenAtuisntaBr riaazC ihliC lzee Rcehp ubFlriacnG cree ece
GuatemHaulnag aIrtyaJ layp aPno laPnodr tuSgianlg apore
SouKtohr eSaw itzeTrhlaainldTa unrdk Uekyr aiVniee tnam
Oxforidas r egisttrearmdeaedr o kfO xforUdn ivePrrseistsy
int hUeK a nidnc ertoatihcneo ru ntries
Publiisnth heUedn itSetda tes
byO xforUdn ivePrrseiIstnsycN .e,wY ork
Editomraitae©lr M iaatlt hDe.Ew d dayn Dda vKindi g2h0t0 6
Them orrailg ohftt hsae u thhoarvbsee eans serted
DatabraisgOehx tfo rUdn ivePrrsei(stmsya ker)
Firpsutb liassah nOe xdfo rWdo rlCdl'ass psaipcesr 2b0a0c6k
Alrli grhetsse rNvope adro.tft hpiusb licmaatybi ero enp roduced,
stoirneard e trsiyesvtaoelrtm r,a nsmiinat ntfoyer dmo, rb ya nmye ans,
withtohupetr ipoerr misisnwi rointo ifOn xgfo rUdn ivePrrseistsy,
ora se xprepsesrlmyib tylt aeowdr,u ndteerr amgsr eweidtt hha ep propriate
reprogrraipghohirtcgssa niEznaqtuiiocrnoi.ne cse rrneipnrgo duction
outstihdseec oopfte h aeb osvheo ublesd e nttot hRei ghDtesp artment,
OxforUdn ivePrrseiastttsy h, ae d draebsosv e
Yomuu snto cti rctuhlbaiotsoe ik na noyt hbeirn doircn ogv er
anydo muu sitm potshesi asm ceo ndiotnai noaync quirer
BritLiisbhrC aartya loignPu uibnlgi cDaattiao n
Dataav ailable
LibroafCr oyn grCeastsa liongP iunbgl icDaattiao n
PalWeiyl,l i1a7m4,3 -1805.
Natutrhaelo :le ovgiydeofnt cheeex istaennadct et riobftu htdeee sic toyl,l efcrtotemhd e
appearoafnn acteu/sWr iel lPiaalm;ee yd iwtietdah ni ntrodauncndto itobenys
MatthDe.Ew d dayn Dda vKindi ght.
p.cm.
Inclubdiebsl iogrreafpehriecnacle s.
1.N atutrhaelo lIoEg.dy d.My a,t th1e9w7,2 I-IK.n igDhatv,Mi .d IITIi.t le.
BLl83.2P030562 IO-dc22020 5026316
TypeisnEe htr hardt
byR efineCLaitmcihtB eudn,gS auyff,o lk.
PrinitnGe rde Barti tbayi n
ClaLytsd S.tI, v eplsc
ISB0--N1 9-280598748--0---139 -280584--3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Weo ffers pae ctihaalnt kots hm ea ny studceonltlse wahagonu de s
encouruastg oep du rstuheip sr ojpeacrtt,i ctuol atrhloys e who
respotnood ueirdn ietmiaaillt she eai rsnlt ya ogfe so ur arneds earch
tot hfoel lowsicnhgo lars wchoon soiffdmeeorrreasadbul lp ep ort
anadd viJcoehH:n.B rooGkeeo,ff Nr.eC ya ntBoertR,ha inReoyg,e r
NorrJiosn,a tThoapnh aAmi,l eFeynfeW ,i llHi.aB mr ocPke,t er
JB.owlAenrd,r eas-RoigEe.Jr o nMaatLehohawlneSe ,i, m oPn.
JameAsn,d rPeaanst azMaotmomvseo, Sn y doSwt,e pWh.eS ny kes,
PauMlu rrCaoyl,Gi .nC rowdReorbI, l iAffnet,h oGnrya fAtnonn,
BlaainrAd,l isMtcaGirra Rtehs.o uarncfuden sd fosr o ur research
wergee nersouupsplblyyi eUtdnh iev eorfDs iurthya tmh,De i bner
Instfoirtt uhHteie s toSrcyi eotnfhcM eea ,xP lanIcnks tfoirtt uhtee
History otfhR eoS tcaiIrenynt ceer,nA amtbiaosnsaalSd cohroilaalr s
PrograPmrmien,c Tehtoeolno gSiecmailn arUyn,i vtehroesf ity
Edinbulrigbhrs'aysrs yt( etmSh pee cCioalll ecDteipoanrsta mnednt
NewC ollege LibrHaarryv)Ua nraidnv edLr istbihrtesay yr syt em
(e spectihaHeli llLyli ebsr wahriyc,h parg orvaiptdhieosdt oocfopy
thfier setd itoifoN na turTahle olFoignya)ol.ul rty h,a nakrse
extendDeidm ittGorr iiogso rowphoogu rlaocsi,to ruasnlsyal lalted
LatainndG reeqku otattioGo enosff,rS ecya rwrheo, lueshn its
perscoonpaoylJf o hRna yT'hsWe i sdoofGm o (dL ond1o7n1,a4 n)d,
toD icWka tswohno, rtehdaerd a offtt h ien trodauncmdta idoen
helpsfuulg gesfotrii tiosmn psr ovement.
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CONTENTS
Introduction ix
Note on the Text XXX
Select Bibliography xxxii
A Chronology of William Paley xxxvi
NATURAL THEOLOGY
I
Appendix: Further Reading
Explanatory Notes
This page intentionally left blank
INTRODUCTION
Bucta tnh ebreae n pye rs.o.wn.h oc acno nstihdreee rg ular
movemeonftt hhsee avbeondliyte hpser, e sccroiubreosdfte hse
staarnssd,e h eo wa lills inaknebddo unidn ats oi nsgylset em,
antdh edne ntyh tahte irasen c yo nscpiuorupisont s heai nssd a y
thiaittts h weo rokfc hance?
MarcTuusl lCiiucse( r1o0 6B---e4D)3e,N atuDreao rum
[T]Ahlem igdhitsyc omvoerorefhs iW si sdionfom r misnugca h
vasmtu ltiotfud dieff erseonrottf Cs r eataunrdae lswl,i th
admiraanbidlr er eprAorvttah,ba ilnfe hh eac dr eabtuaetfe d w ;
fort hdiesc ltahrgeer se atanneudsn sb ouncdaepda ocfih tiys
Understanding.
JohRna yT,hW ei sdoofGm o d( 1691)
AB riHeifs tooNfra yt uTrhaelo logy
NatuTrhaelo liotsgh ype r acotfii ncfeer rtihneg existence and wis­
domo fG odfr omt hoer daenrbd e auotfy wt ohreWl idl.l Piaalmie sy
sos troindgelnyt wiifitnehad t utrhaelo ltohgahyte is sometimes
thoutgohh atv ien veinwtth eedhn ep ubliNsahteudTr haelo liong y
1802fa.c tnI,an t utrhaelo lhoaags y l hoinsgt gooriybn,ag c k well
beforteht ei meJ eosfTu hsu.s i,np hilosoofrp ehlyi cgoiuorns es
todsatyu deanrtteas u gthhtat th earrete h ree different kinds of
arguments tdheamto nsstethereka teetx oi sGtoedcn:oc sem oo­f
logitcealle,o laongodin ctaoll,oT ghiefic ratslwt.ho a vbee eanr ound
sintcheae n ciGernetew khsi,tl hele a wsatms o sctl eaforrlmyu lated
byA nseolfCm a nteribnu retylh eev ceenntthTu hrecy o.s mological
argumheonlttd hsat thw eo rladn,de veryitnhi itdn,eg p enond s
sometfohrii ntegsx istTehni'csse .o metmhuisbntegG 'o dS.o me
formosf atrhgeu mgeon te ven anfudsr attyhh eatrth p eh ysical
causoepse raitni nntgah teu wroarll( cdo swmoesrs)et arbtyae d
divfiirnsect a u(sGeo adt)s ompeo intth peia nsT th.et eleological
argumheonltd st htneha attuw roarallp dp etaohr asvb ee edne signed,
orc reabtyea d ,d essiogmnfoeer rm;os f t haer gumenatffi raml so
thatthw eo rwladcs r eattose edr svoem e osfdo irvti inneslpyi red
en(dt elTohseo) n.t olaorggiucmahelon lttd hsae tx istence is entailed
byt hceo ncepGto d-omafo vweh icihn heraesnstulmtyeh sa t