Disquisitions relating to Matter and Spirit

Title page from the first edition of Disquisitions relating to Matter and Spirit (1777)

Disquisitions relating to Matter and Spirit (1777) is a major work of metaphysics written by eighteenth-century British polymath Joseph Priestley and published by Joseph Johnson.^[1]

Between 1774 and 1778, while he was serving as an assistant to Lord Shelburne, Priestley wrote five major metaphysical works, in which he outlined his materialist philosophy, even though such a position "entailed denial of free will and the soul."^[2]

In the first of these works, The Examination of Dr. Reid's Inquiry. . . Dr. Beattie's Essay. . . and Dr. Oswald's Appeal (1774),^[3] Priestley had strongly suggested that there was no mind-body duality. Such a position shocked and angered many of his readers who believed that such a duality was necessary for the soul to exist. In order to explain his belief more clearly Priestley wrote the Disquisitions, which claimed that both "matter" and "force" are active, and therefore that objects in the world and the mind must be made of the same substance. Moreover, he contended that discussing the soul was impossible because it is made of a divine substance, and humanity cannot access the divine. He therefore denied the materialism of the soul while simultaneously claiming its existence. Although he buttressed his arguments with familiar scholarship and ancient authorities, including scripture, he was labeled an atheist and at least a dozen hostile refutations of the work were published by 1782.^[4]

See also

• Joseph Priestley and Dissent
• List of works by Joseph Priestley

Notes

1. ^ Priestley, Joseph. Disquisitions relating to matter and spirit. To which is added, the history of the philosophical doctrine concerning the origin of the soul, and the nature of matter; with its influence on Christianity, especially with respect to the doctrine of the pre-existence of Christ. London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1777.
2. ^ Tapper, 316.
3. ^ Priestley, Joseph. An examination of Dr. Reid’s Inquiry into the human mind on the principles of common sense, Dr. Beattie’s Essay on the nature and immutability of truth, and Dr. Oswald’s Appeal to common sense in behalf of religion. London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1774.
4. ^ Schofield, Vol. 2, 59–76; Gibbs, 99–100; Holt, 112-24; Tapper, 317.

Bibliography

• Gibbs, F. W. Joseph Priestley: Adventurer in Science and Champion of Truth. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1965.
• Holt, Anne. A Life of Joseph Priestley. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.
• Schofield, Robert E. The Enlightened Joseph Priestley: A Study of His Life and Work from 1773 to 1804. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2004. ISBN 0271024593.
• Tapper, Alan. "Joseph Priestley." Dictionary of Literary Biography 252: British Philosophers 1500–1799. Eds. Philip B. Dematteis and Peter S. Fosl. Detroit: Gale Group, 2002.

This Christian theology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Christian studies books Metaphysics literature Philosophy of mind literature 1777 books Books by Joseph Priestley Christian theology stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Popcorn Taxi David Armitage (historian) Look at other dictionaries: Joseph Priestley and Dissent — Joseph Priestley (March 13, 1733 (old style) ndash; February 8, 1804) was a British natural philosopher, political theorist, clergyman, theologian, and educator. He was one of the most influential Dissenters of the late eighteenth century.A… …   Wikipedia Joseph Priestley — (13 March 1733 (Old Style) – 6 February 1804) was an 18th century British theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works. He is usually credited with the discovery of oxygen,… …   Wikipedia Joseph Priestley — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Priestley. Joseph Priestley Portrait de Priestley par Ozias Humphrey …   Wikipédia en Français Psychology (The separation of) from philosophy — The separation of psychology from philosophy Studies in the sciences of mind 1815–1879 Edward S.Reed THE IMPOSSIBLE SCIENCE Traditional metaphysics The consensus of European opinion during and immediately after the Napoleonic era was that… …   History of philosophy The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated — The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity (1777) is one of the major metaphysical works of eighteenth century British polymath Joseph Priestley. [Priestley, Joseph. The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated; being an appendix to the… …   Wikipedia List of works by Joseph Priestley — This list of works by Joseph Priestley classifies all of the works by Joseph Priestley (1733 – 1804), a British natural philosopher, Dissenting clergyman, political theorist, theologian, and educator. He is best known for his discovery,… …   Wikipedia Liste des œuvres de Joseph Priestley — Priestley, paint à la fin de sa vie par Rembrandt Peale (vers 1800) Cette liste des œuvres de Joseph Priestley classifie tous les ouvrages de Joseph Priestley (1733 1804), philosophe naturel britannique, prêtre dissident, philosophe politique,… …   Wikipédia en Français Christian mortalism — incorporates the belief that the human soul is not naturally immortal,[1][2][3][4][5] and the belief that the soul is uncomprehending during the time between bodily death and Judgment Day resurrection …   Wikipedia United States —    The dissemination of Hindu thought and practice in the United States began before any Hindu teacher entered America. Ironically, the assimilation of immigrants from India has not been a primary vehicle for the introduction or popularization of …   Encyclopedia of Hinduism Priestley —   [ priːstlɪ],    1) J. B. (John Boynton), englischer Schriftsteller, * Bradford (Metropolitan County West Yorkshire) 13. 9. 1894, ✝ Stratford upon Avon 14. 8. 1984. Priestley war Journalist und Kritiker (»George Meredith«, 1926; »Thomas Love… …   Universal-Lexikon 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”