The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated (1777)

The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated is a book written by Joseph Priestley and published in 1777. The book is a philosophical treatise that explores the concept of necessity and its implications for human free will. Priestley argues that everything in the universe is subject to the laws of cause and effect, and that this means that all events are ultimately predetermined. He contends that this view of the universe is compatible with the existence of God, and that it offers a more rational and coherent understanding of the world than the idea of free will.The book is divided into two parts. The first part provides an overview of the concept of necessity and its historical development, while the second part explores the implications of this concept for various areas of human life, including morality, religion, and politics.Throughout the book, Priestley engages with the ideas of other philosophers, including David Hume and John Locke, and offers his own original insights into the nature of necessity and its role in human affairs. The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated is a challenging and thought-provoking work that continues to be studied and debated by scholars of philosophy and theology.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.