Paley, William

views updated

Paley, William (1743–1805). Paley wrote standard works on the evidences for Christianity. Senior wrangler at Cambridge, he was ordained and after tutoring at Cambridge moved to clerical posts in Carlisle diocese, and then to Monkwearmouth (Sunderland). His Evidences was published in 1794, and his Natural Theology in 1802. Extremely successful, with more than 20 editions, they were required reading for undergraduates at Cambridgeand at the infant university of Durham. Charles Darwin was most impressed by Natural Theology, and the Origin of Species can be seen as a riposte to it. Paley argued that the world and the creatures in it are like watches, and must have had a Watchmaker: it is a classic expression of the Design argument for the existence of God, well organized, cumulative, and beautifully written. A clumsy man with a broad northern accent, Paley delighted in fishing.

David Knight

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

Paley, William

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article

Related Content