Page "William Paley" Paragraph 9

Paley is also remembered for his contributions to the philosophy of religion, utilitarian ethics and Christian apologetics.

In 1802 he published Natural Theology ; or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, his last book.

As he states in the preface, he saw the book as a preamble to his other philosophical and theological books ; in fact, he suggests that Natural Theology should be read first, so as to build a systematic understanding of his arguments.

The main thrust of his argument was that God's design of the whole creation could be seen in the general happiness, or well-being, that was evident in the physical and social order of things.

Such a book fell within the broad tradition of natural theology works written during the Enlightenment ; and this explains why Paley based much of his thought on Ray ( 1691 ) and Derham ( 1711 ) and Nieuwentyt ( 1750 ).