Joseph Butler: The Analogy of Religion

Description

Joseph Butler's The Analogy of Religion (1736) is an important work in terms of its historical influence and its contemporary relevance. In it, Butler defends Christian belief against many well-known objections: for instance, that the evidence for Christianity is weak; that it is impossible to believe in miracles; that if God existed he would have revealed himself clearly to everyone. The problems Butler discusses are current in contemporary philosophy of religion, but his answers are often ignored, or given short shrift. Butler argues that by examining this world we have reason to believe its Creator is both benevolent and just; that virtue will be rewarded and vice punished. Even if we have doubts, we would be well advised to take Christianity seriously, given what is at stake. The work includes seminal discussions of life after death, personal identity, and the structure of our ethical thought. In addition to extensive notes, David McNaughton's edition includes a detailed synopsis, a selection from the correspondence between Butler and Samuel Clarke, and an oveview of philosophical influences on Butler's thought. Cover The Analogy of Religion Joseph Butler: With a Selection from the Correspondence between Joseph Butler and Samuel Clarke Copyright Contents Preface Introduction Life Butler’s Influence The Argument of the Analogy Life After Death Moral Government of God Trial and Tribulation Revelation Moral Philosophy in the Analogy, as Compared with the Sermons Butler on Personal Identity Butler–Clarke Correspondence Notes on the Text The Analogy and Butler–Clarke Correspondence Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling Italics and Quotations Footnotes Editor’s Notes Butler’s Predecessors Bibliography Synopsis of The Analogy of Religion Advertisement Introduction Part I Chapter 1 Of a Future Life Chapter 2 Of the Government of God by Rewards and Punishments; and Particularly of the Latter Chapter 3 Of the Moral Government of God Chapter 4 Of a State of Probation, as Implying Trial, Difficulties and Danger Chapter 5 Of a State of Probation, as Intended for Moral Discipline and Improvement Chapter 6 Of the Opinion of Necessity, Considered as Influencing Practice Chapter 7 Of the Government of God, Considered as a Scheme or Constitution, Imperfectly Comprehended Conclusion Part II Chapter 1 Of the Importance of Christianity Chapter 2 Of the Supposed Presumption against a Revelation, Considered as Miraculous Chapter 3 Of our Incapacity of Judging, What Were to be Expected in a Revelation; and the Credibility, from Analogy, that it Must Contain Things Appearing Liable to Objection Chapter 4 Of Christianity, Considered as a Scheme or Constitution, Imperfectly Comprehended Chapter 5 Of the Particular System of Christianity; the Appointment of a Mediator, and the Redemption of the World by Him Chapter 6 Of the Want of Universality in Revelation: and of the Supposed Deficiency in the Proof of it Chapter 7 Of the Particular Evidence for Christianity Chapter 8 Of the Objections Which May be Made Against Arguing from the Analogy of Nature to Religion Conclusion Dissertation I: Of Personal Identity Dissertation II: Of the Nature of Virtue Memorial Tablet to Butler in Bristol Cathedral THE ANALOGY OF RELIGION Advertisement Introduction PART I: OF NATURAL RELIGION 1: Of a Future Life 2: Of the Government of God by Rewards and Punishments; and Particularly of the Latter 3: Of the Moral Government of God 4: Of a State of Probation, as Implying Trial, Difficulties, and Danger 5: Of a State of Probation, as Intended for Moral Discipline and Improvement 6: Of the Opinion of Necessity, Considered as Influencing Practice 7: Of the Government of God, Considered as A Scheme or Constitution, Imperfectly Comprehended* Conclusion PART II: OF REVEALED RELIGION 1: Of the Importance of Christianity 2: Of the Supposed Presumption Against a Revelation, Considered as Miraculous 3: Of our Incapacity of Judging, What Were to be Expected in a Revelation; and the Credibility, From Analogy, That It Must Contain Things Appearing Liable to Objections 4: Of Christianity, Considered as a Scheme or Constitution, Imperfectly Comprehended 5: Of the Particular System of Christianity; The Appointment of a Mediator, and the Redemption of the World by Him 6: Of the Want of Universality in Revelation; and of the Supposed Deficiency in the Proof of It 7: Of the Particular Evidence for Christianity 8: Of the Objections Which may be Made Against Arguing from the Analogy of Nature, to Religion Conclusion ADVERTISEMENT Dissertation I Of Personal Identity Dissertation II Of The Nature of Virtue A Selection from the Correspondence between Joseph Butler and Samuel Clarke I Butler to Clarke, November 4th, 1713 II Reply from Clarke to Butler, November 10th, 1713 III Second Letter from Butler to Clarke, November 23rd, 1713 IV Clarke’s Answer to Butler’s Second Letter, November 28th, 1713 V Butler’s Third Letter, December 5th, 1713 VI Clarke’s Answer to Butler’s Third Letter, December 10th, 1713 VII Butler’s Fourth Letter, December 16th, 1713 VIII Clarke’s Answer to Butler’s Fourth letter, January 29th, 1714 IX Butler’s Fifth Letter, February 3rd, 1714 X Clarke’s Reply to Butler’s Fifth Letter, April 8th, 1714 Editor’s Notes Advertisement Introduction Part I Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Conclusion Part II Of Revealed Religion Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Conclusion Dissertation I Dissertation II Concerning what is in our power and what is not Butler’s Predecessors Deism Samuel Clarke (1675–1729) George Berkeley (1685–1753) Bibliography Works by Butler published during his lifetime Modern Editions of Butler’s Works Biographical Works Works by Butler’s Predecessors and Contemporaries Books on Butler, his Predecessors, and his Contemporaries Books, Articles, and Chapters about Topics in Butler’s Analogy Internet Entries about Butler and his Predecessors Other works cited Index