Astronomy and general physics considered with reference to natural theology

London: William Pickering, 1834. SECOND EDITION. Second edition of the third treatise in the Bridgewater Treatise series, a group of works designed to explore the natural world within the framework of a divine design as first outlined by William Paley. Whewell writes here of his conviction that the more one studies the laws of nature the more convinced that person will be in the existence of God.

Whewell (1794-1866) was a co-founder and president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the Royal Society, president of the Geological Society, and for many years Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. He wrote authoritatively on architecture, mechanics, mineralogy, moral philosophy, astronomy, political economy, and the philosophy of science. He coined the words anode, cathode, ion, and scientist. He also famously opposed the idea of evolution. He believed that science would not undermine religion, pointing out God’s design of both humans and the world of nature. Despite Darwin’s quote of Whewell (But with regard to the material world, we can at least go so far as this;—we can perceive that events are brought about, not by insulated interpositions of Divine power, exerted in each particular ease, but by the establishment of general laws”, p. 356) on the title page of his Origin of species, Whewell was adamantly opposed to the theory of evolution.

Provenance: From the library of the Anglican priest W[illiam] A[ndrewes] Fearon, DD, MA (1841-1924). Fearon was educated at New College, Oxford, where he was a Fellow from 1864 to 1867. He was Archdeacon of Winchester from 1903 to 1920, Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Winchester from 1903 to 1915; and Canon of Winchester from 1906 until 1920. The bookplate indicates a gift from his library to the Bishop Lyttelton Library of Winchester.