Liberty and necessity in eighteenth-century Britain: the Clarke-Collins and Price-Priestley controversies
department or school: Arts, Faculty of
department or school: Philosophy, Department of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Horner, Andrew Philip
issued: 2009-03-24T20:14:41Z
issued: 1997
related degree: Master of Arts - MA
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: This essay presents an analysis of two eighteenth-century controversies on liberty and necessity of the will . The first debate between Anthony Collins and Samuel Clarke took place in the early part of the century, and that between Richard Price and Joseph Priestley in the second half. The bulk of the essay relates to Clarke and Collins. In Chapter One I introduce the question of liberty and necessity in the context of a challenge to traditional theism through the work of Thomas Hobbes; Hobbes' compatibilist arguments were later adapted by Collins. In Chapter Two I consider Clarke's rationalist theology and his arguments for libertarianism presented in reaction to Hobbes in A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God (based on his 1704 Boyle Lecture series), and in Chapter Three the influence of John Locke on Collins' compatibilist position. Chapter Four is an examination of the texts of the debate itself , in the 'Dodwell' pamphlets published between 1707 and 1709, in Collins' A Philosophical Inquiry- Concerning Human Liberty (1717), and in Clarke's Remarks (1718) on Collin\s' book. I draw out evidence from the texts to show that, though nominally a general survey of the arguments, Collins wrote his Philosophical Inquiry with Clarke specifically in mind. In Chapter Five I turn to the later controversy between Richard Price and Joseph Priestley, considering Price's A Review of the Principal Questions and Difficulties in Morals (1758, revised 1769), Priestley's reply in The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated (1777), and finally the correspondence between them, published as A Free Discussion of the Doctrines of Materialism and Philosophical Necessity (1778). Price and Priestley were followers of Clarke and Collins respectively, and adapt many of their arguments. I argue that it is Priestley who develops the debate by incorporating Hume's reworking of causation in his Treatise (1739-40) and Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1st edition 1748), …
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/6396
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note: LIBERTY AND NECESSITY IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY BRITAIN: The Clarke-Collins and Price-Priestley Controversies by ANDREW PHILIP HORNER M.A., University of Cambridge, 1994 B.A., The Open University, 1996 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Department of Philosophy) We accept t h i s thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA August 1997 (c) Andrew P h i l i p Horner, 1997 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada Date / At^rUST (W7 DE-6 (2/88) ABSTRACT This essay presents an analysis of two eighteenth-century controversies on l i b e r t y and necessity of the w i l l . The f i r s t debate between Anthony C o l l i n s and Samuel Clarke took place i n the early part of the century, and that between Richard Price and Joseph P r i e s t l e y i n the second h a l f . The bulk of the essay relates to Clarke and C o l l i n s . In Chapter One I introduce the question of l i b e r t y and necessity i n the context of a challenge to t r a d i t i o n a l theism through the work of Thomas Hobbes; Hobbes' compatibilist arguments were l a t e r adapted by C o l l i n s . In Chapter Two I consider Clarke's r a t i o n a l i s t theology and h i s arguments fo r l i b e r t a r i a n i s m presented i n reaction to Hobbes i n A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God (based on his 1704 Boyle Lecture s e r i e s ) , an…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 1997-11
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0087938
language: eng
degree discipline: Philosophy
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
scholar level: Graduate
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/6396