Design and Providence: Robert Boyle and the Newtonian Ideology
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2016-10-07
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en
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Abstract
Natural theology is a prominent aspect of Britain’s science history. The standard
historical narrative tells us that, at the turn of the 17th century, the Newtonians Richard
Bentley and Samuel Clarke reintroduced the cosmic argument from design, ignoring
Rober Boyle’s warnings that cosmic arguments are too uncertain. In this paper I show
that this narrative is incorrect. Instead, the real change is that the Newtonians
emphasized special providence over intelligent design, which was more easily proven
from cosmology than from biology. However, biology continued to play an important
role in their arguments. Therefore, one should not speak of a conflict between biological
and cosmic arguments.
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Faculteit der Filosofie, Theologie en Religiewetenschappen