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The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated

The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity (1777) is one of the major metaphysical works of 18th-century British polymath Joseph Priestley.[1]

Title page from Joseph Priestley's Philosophical Necessity

Introduction edit

Between 1774 and 1778, while serving as an assistant to Lord Shelburne, Priestley wrote a series of five major metaphysical works, arguing for a materialist philosophy even though such a position "entailed denial of free will and the soul."[2]

Continuing the arguments he had started in The Examination of Dr. Reid's Inquiry… Dr. Beattie's Essay… and Dr. Oswald's Appeal (1774) and Disquisitions Relating to Matter and Spirit (1777), Priestley published The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated (1777), an "appendix" to the Disquisitions that "suggests that materialism and determinism are mutually supporting."[3] Priestley explicitly stated that humans had no free will: "all things, past, present, and to come, are precisely what the Author of nature really intended them to be, and has made provision for."[4] He was the first to claim that what he called "philosophical necessity" (a position akin to absolute determinism) is consonant with Christianity. His philosophy was based on his theological interpretation of the natural world; like the rest of nature, man's mind is subject to the laws of causation, but because a benevolent God created these laws, Priestley argued, the world and the men in it will eventually be perfected. He argued that the associations made in a person's mind were a necessary product of their lived experience because Hartley's theory of associationism was analogous to natural laws, such as gravity. Priestley contends that his necessarianism can be distinguished from fatalism and predestination because it relies on natural law. Isaac Kramnick points out the paradox of Priestley's positions: as a reformer, he argued that political change was essential to human happiness and urged his readers to participate, but he also claimed in works such as Philosophical Necessity that humans have no free will.[5][6]

Reception edit

Philosophical Necessity influenced the 19th-century utilitarians John Stuart Mill and Herbert Spencer, who were drawn to its determinism.

The philosopher A. Spir believed that the work had so clearly refuted the notion of free will, that it is unnecessary to discuss the issue anymore.[7] In a similar fashion, Arthur Schopenhauer commented that "no writer has presented the necessity of acts of will so thoroughly and convincingly as Priestley ... If anyone is not convinced by this supremely clearly and accessibly written book, his understanding must really be paralysed by prejudices.",[8]: 77  and that the work contributed to Kant taking the complete necessity of acts of will as a settled matter to which no further doubt could pertain.[8]: 81 

The writer Herman Melville mentions this book in the short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener". The narrator reads this philosophical treatise to get ideas on how to treat his obstinate employee Bartleby and to examine their relation to one another in God's larger plan.

See also edit

Bibliography edit

  • Garrett, Clarke. "Joseph Priestley, the Millennium, and the French Revolution." Journal of the History of Ideas 34.1 (1973): 51–66.
  • Kramnick, Isaac. "Eighteenth-Century Science and Radical Social Theory: The Case of Joseph Priestley's Scientific Liberalism." Journal of British Studies 25 (1986): 1–30.
  • Schofield, Robert E. The Enlightened Joseph Priestley: A Study of His Life and Work from 1773 to 1804. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2004. ISBN 0-271-02459-3.
  • Sheps, Arthur. "Joseph Priestley's Time Charts: The Use and Teaching of History by Rational Dissent in late Eighteenth-Century England." Lumen 18 (1999): 135–154.
  • Tapper, Alan. "Joseph Priestley." Dictionary of Literary Biography 252: British Philosophers 1500–1799. Eds. Philip B. Dematteis and Peter S. Fosl. Detroit: Gale Group, 2002.

References edit

  1. ^ Priestley, Joseph. The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated; being an appendix to the Disquisitions relating to matter and spirit. To which is added an answer to the Letters on materialism, and on Hartley’s Theory of the mind. London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1777.
  2. ^ Tapper, 316.
  3. ^ Tapper, 318.
  4. ^ Qtd. in Schofield, Vol. 79.
  5. ^ Kramnick, 16.
  6. ^ Schofield, 77–91; Garrett, 55; Tapper, 319; Sheps, 138.
  7. ^ A. Spir (1873). Denken und Wirklichkeit. Versuch einer Erneuerung der kritischen Philosophie. Vol. 2. Leipzig: J. G. Findel. p. 162.
  8. ^ a b Schopenhauer, Arthur (1839). On the Freedom of the Will. Trondheim: Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences. ISBN 978-0-631-14552-3.

External links edit

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The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity 1777 is one of the major metaphysical works of 18th century British polymath Joseph Priestley 1 Title page from Joseph Priestley s Philosophical Necessity Contents 1 Introduction 2 Reception 3 See also 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksIntroduction editBetween 1774 and 1778 while serving as an assistant to Lord Shelburne Priestley wrote a series of five major metaphysical works arguing for a materialist philosophy even though such a position entailed denial of free will and the soul 2 Continuing the arguments he had started in The Examination of Dr Reid s Inquiry Dr Beattie s Essay and Dr Oswald s Appeal 1774 and Disquisitions Relating to Matter and Spirit 1777 Priestley published The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated 1777 an appendix to the Disquisitions that suggests that materialism and determinism are mutually supporting 3 Priestley explicitly stated that humans had no free will all things past present and to come are precisely what the Author of nature really intended them to be and has made provision for 4 He was the first to claim that what he called philosophical necessity a position akin to absolute determinism is consonant with Christianity His philosophy was based on his theological interpretation of the natural world like the rest of nature man s mind is subject to the laws of causation but because a benevolent God created these laws Priestley argued the world and the men in it will eventually be perfected He argued that the associations made in a person s mind were a necessary product of their lived experience because Hartley s theory of associationism was analogous to natural laws such as gravity Priestley contends that his necessarianism can be distinguished from fatalism and predestination because it relies on natural law Isaac Kramnick points out the paradox of Priestley s positions as a reformer he argued that political change was essential to human happiness and urged his readers to participate but he also claimed in works such as Philosophical Necessity that humans have no free will 5 6 Reception editPhilosophical Necessity influenced the 19th century utilitarians John Stuart Mill and Herbert Spencer who were drawn to its determinism The philosopher A Spir believed that the work had so clearly refuted the notion of free will that it is unnecessary to discuss the issue anymore 7 In a similar fashion Arthur Schopenhauer commented that no writer has presented the necessity of acts of will so thoroughly and convincingly as Priestley If anyone is not convinced by this supremely clearly and accessibly written book his understanding must really be paralysed by prejudices 8 77 and that the work contributed to Kant taking the complete necessity of acts of will as a settled matter to which no further doubt could pertain 8 81 The writer Herman Melville mentions this book in the short story Bartleby the Scrivener The narrator reads this philosophical treatise to get ideas on how to treat his obstinate employee Bartleby and to examine their relation to one another in God s larger plan See also editLibertarianism metaphysics Bibliography editGarrett Clarke Joseph Priestley the Millennium and the French Revolution Journal of the History of Ideas 34 1 1973 51 66 Kramnick Isaac Eighteenth Century Science and Radical Social Theory The Case of Joseph Priestley s Scientific Liberalism Journal of British Studies 25 1986 1 30 Schofield Robert E The Enlightened Joseph Priestley A Study of His Life and Work from 1773 to 1804 University Park Pennsylvania State University Press 2004 ISBN 0 271 02459 3 Sheps Arthur Joseph Priestley s Time Charts The Use and Teaching of History by Rational Dissent in late Eighteenth Century England Lumen 18 1999 135 154 Tapper Alan Joseph Priestley Dictionary of Literary Biography 252 British Philosophers 1500 1799 Eds Philip B Dematteis and Peter S Fosl Detroit Gale Group 2002 References edit Priestley Joseph The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated being an appendix to the Disquisitions relating to matter and spirit To which is added an answer to the Letters on materialism and on Hartley s Theory of the mind London Printed for J Johnson 1777 Tapper 316 Tapper 318 Qtd in Schofield Vol 79 Kramnick 16 Schofield 77 91 Garrett 55 Tapper 319 Sheps 138 A Spir 1873 Denken und Wirklichkeit Versuch einer Erneuerung der kritischen Philosophie Vol 2 Leipzig J G Findel p 162 a b Schopenhauer Arthur 1839 On the Freedom of the Will Trondheim Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences ISBN 978 0 631 14552 3 External links editThe first edition on Google Books The second edition enlarged on Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated amp oldid 1158060745, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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