This classic work by William Paley was one of the most popular
books in England and America in the early nineteenth century. Its
significance lies in the fact that it marks an important point at
which eighteenth century "whiggism" began to be
transformed into nineteenth century "liberalism."
First published in 1785, Paley's
Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy
was originally based on his Cambridge lectures of 1766-1776.
It was designed for instructional purposes and was almost
immediately adopted as a required text for all undergraduates at
Cambridge.
The great popularity of Paley's
Principles is perhaps due in part to the author's
remarkable gift for clear exposition. Even today, this work is very
readable and easily comprehended. But the popularity of the book
also reflected the fact that Paley expressed some of the leading
scientific, theological, and ethical ideas of his time and place. In
this respect, Paley's great classic provides valuable insight into
the Anglo-American mind of the early nineteenth century and helps us
better understand the thinking processes and evolving concepts of
liberty and virtue that were displacing the old "whiggism"
of the preceding century.
As editor D. L. Le Mahieu states,
"To Paley, the undeniable demands of self interest coincided
rather than conflicted with the needs of society." Paley
believed that "it was the utility of any moral rule alone which
determined obligation." In his political theory, Paley rejected
social contract theory and substituted instead a natural history of
civil society. His opposition to electoral reform, and, later, the
French Revolution, "became part of a larger ideological
discourse that helped the British elites withstand the revolutionary
currents of the 1790s."
D. L. Le Mahieu is
Hotchkiss Presidential Professor at Lake Forest College in Illinois.
He is also the author of The Mind of William Paley: A Philosopher
and His Age (1976) and A Culture for Democracy
(1988).
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