The Religious Philosopher
Or, The Right Use of Contemplating the Works of the Creator

Reissued in its 1724 English translation, this two-volume work by a Dutch philosopher influenced the natural theology of William Paley.

Bernard Nieuwentyt (Author), John Chamberlayne (Translated by), J. T. Desaguliers (Preface by)

9781108078191, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 13 November 2014

390 pages, 16 b/w illus.
24.5 x 17 x 2 cm, 0.66 kg

Originally published in Dutch in 1715, this two-volume work by the philosopher and theologian Bernard Nieuwentyt (1654–1718) is reissued here in the 1724 third edition of the English translation by John Chamberlayne (1668/9–1723). The book seeks to persuade both Christians and atheists that scientific examination of the natural world is compatible with religious belief. According to Chamberlayne, Nieuwentyt published this illustrated work to 'magnify the Wisdom and Goodness of God' while challenging those who did not see proof of the divine in nature. The work is known to have influenced the natural theology of the English philosopher William Paley (1743–1805), whose famous analogy of the watchmaker is believed to have been taken directly from Nieuwentyt. Arguing against rationalist philosophers such as Spinoza, Volume 2 continues Nieuwentyt's series of 'contemplations', focusing on details about the cosmos and the laws of nature.

19. Of water
20. Of the earth
21. Of fire
22. Of beasts, fowls, and fishes
23. Of plants
24. Of the visible heavens
25. Of the unspeakable number, and unconceivable smallness of the particles of which the universe consists
26. Of certain laws of nature
27. Of some chymical laws of nature
28. Of the possibility of the resurrection
29. Of the unknown things.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]