Originally published in 1915, The Natural Theology of Evolution looks at the concept of natural theology, examining the argument for the existence of God based on reason and ordinary experiences of nature. The book looks at natural theology in light of Darwin’s theory of evolution, and how this important discovery affected belief in intelligent design. The book argues that the discovery of evolution, far from diminishing the existence of God, provides stronger proof for an intelligently designed earth and therefore the existence of God. This book provides a unique and interesting take on the debates surrounding evolution in the late 19th and early 20th century. It will be of interest to philosophers, historians of religion and natural historians alike.
Part I: A Common-sense Argument
1. The Common-sense View
2. Paley’s Common-sense View
3. The Implications of the Common-sense View
4. The State of the Argument
5. The Question About Evolution
6. What Chance Variation May Do
7. What Chance Variation Cannot Do
8. Creative Evolution
Note to Part I: Mendelism and Mutationism
Part II: A More Abstract or Philosophical Argument
9. Necessity
10. Chance
11. Unlimited Chance
12. Infinite Numbers
13. The Chance-Plus-Order Series
14. Natural Groups and Series
Part III: The Application of the Argument
15. The Fertilisation of the Cuckoo-Pint and of the Aristolochia
16. The Fertilisation of Orchids
17. The Eye
18. An Insectivorous Plant
19. A Bird’s Flight
20. The Pecten’s Eye
21. The Asymmetry of the Plaice
22. Instinct
Part IV: Objections Considered
Some Objections
Biography
J. N. Shearman