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1789 William Paley Portrait naturalist
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1789 William Paley Portrait naturalist
William Paley (July 1743 - 25 May 1805). Stippled engraving published by Joshua Belcher 1810 as frontis to " The Works of William Paley" Volume I, prepared and with later hand colouring after contemporary 1789 painting by George Romney. Paley is best remembered today for his use of the watchmaker analogy to open his 1802 last book, " Natural Theology". In it he claims that complex design requires a designer, and hence animal creation requires a God. In this he followed a long tradition of British thought that can be traced to John Ray and before. This books lucid and reasoned style of argument greatly impressed Darwin as a student in Cambridge (he occupied the same rooms as Paley once did in Christs College). Darwin would later find fault in Paleys argument, providing an alternative agent of complex design in natural selection (Richard Dawkins so called Blind Watchmaker )
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Bible Cambridge Creationism Creationist Darwin Intelligent Design Natural Theology Naturalist Science And Religion Theologian John Ray Paley
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This print showcases the esteemed naturalist, William Paley, in a stippled engraving published by Joshua Belcher in 1810. The portrait is based on a contemporary painting from 1789 by George Romney and was used as the frontispiece for Paley's renowned work, "The Works of William Paley". Volume I. William Paley is primarily remembered today for his influential use of the watchmaker analogy in his final book, "Natural Theology" which was published in 1802. In this groundbreaking piece, he argues that intricate design necessitates a designer and therefore posits that animal creation requires a divine creator. This concept aligns with a longstanding tradition of British thought dating back to John Ray and beyond. Paley's lucid and reasoned style of argument deeply impressed Charles Darwin during his time as a student at Cambridge University. Interestingly enough, Darwin resided in the same rooms at Christs College that were once occupied by Paley himself. However, while Darwin initially found merit in Paley's ideas, he would later challenge them with his theory of natural selection. This remarkable artwork not only captures an iconic figure from history but also symbolizes the intersection between science and religion. It serves as a reminder of how different thinkers have contributed to our understanding of complex design and creation throughout time - from biblical interpretations to modern evolutionary theories like Richard Dawkins' concept of the Blind Watchmaker.
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