The Doctrine Of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated (1777)

""The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated"" is a philosophical treatise written by Joseph Priestley and published in 1777. The book explores the concept of philosophical necessity, which asserts that all events in the universe are causally determined and that human beings have no free will. Priestley argues that this doctrine is not only consistent with the principles of reason and morality, but also with the teachings of Christianity. The book is divided into six parts, each of which covers a different aspect of the doctrine of philosophical necessity. In Part I, Priestley defines the terms ""philosophical necessity"" and ""free will"" and explains the difference between them. In Part II, he examines the evidence for philosophical necessity and argues that it is supported by both reason and experience. In Part III, he addresses objections to the doctrine and shows how they can be answered. In Part IV, he discusses the implications of philosophical necessity for morality and religion. In Part V, he examines the relationship between philosophical necessity and the Christian doctrine of predestination. Finally, in Part VI, he offers some concluding remarks on the importance of understanding philosophical necessity. The book is written in a clear and accessible style and is intended for a general audience interested in philosophy, religion, and morality.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.