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Joseph Butler (1692–1752)

Author of The Analogy of Religion

26+ Works 396 Members 5 Reviews

About the Author

Born at Wautage, Berkshire, England, of a Presbyterian family, Joseph Butler converted to the Church of England sometime before entering Oriel College, Oxford University. He was ordained a priest in 1718, later serving as Bishop of Bristol and then as Bishop of Durham. Butler's contributions to show more philosophy lie in his moral philosophy and moral psychology, set forth in his Sermons (1726) and in his natural theology, expressed in The Analogy of Religion (1736). Butler presented his moral philosophy in a religious context. Yet, his moral philosophy seeks to find a foundation for morality not in the divine will but in human nature, in the interplay of self-love and benevolence, and in reflection or conscience-a faculty superior to particular affections. In moral philosophy Butler is well known for his acute criticisms of the psychological egoism of Hobbes and Mandeville and in natural theology for his defense of revealed religion against the English deists. In an appendix to the Analogy, he presented an influential critique of John Locke's theory of personal identity. Butler died in 1752. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Series

Works by Joseph Butler

The Analogy of Religion (1736) 134 copies
Five Sermons (1950) 125 copies
Sermons (2013) 1 copy

Associated Works

Eighteenth-Century English Literature (1969) — Author — 186 copies
Western Philosophy: An Anthology (1996) — Author, some editions — 184 copies
British Moralists 1650-1800, Vol. 1 Hobbes-Gay (1969) — Contributor — 20 copies

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Joseph Butler in Philosophy and Theory (March 2008)

Reviews

Vol. 1

Imagine the pleasure of finding Voltaire, Samuel Johnson, Rousseau and Gibbon between one set of covers! Each author is prefaced by a couple of paragraphs explaining the significance of the piece and then, they are given free rein.

If there is any man brave enough to give this collection of the World's great thinkers less than five stars, its not I! Superb reading of people just beginning to exercise their new found right to question everything.
2 vote
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the.ken.petersen | Mar 18, 2010 |
The Sermons represent an important milestone in the development of ethics and apologetics (moral thought). But their very dated language and lack of style (even by eighteenth century standards) certainly removes them from light reading.

These sermons were originally published in 1726, and were historically recognized as powerful statements of the requirements of moral behavior. A short work, they were frequently republished, often with other selections from Butler’s works. Butler himself selected and edited them, adding an introduction and a few rather involved footnotes.

The power of the work is that it delivers an argument for morality largely based on reason and logic. Its weakness is in its stilted style and the complexity of that reasoning. While all the sermons are filled with scriptural references only two of them (13 and14 addressing Piety or love of God) actually require faith. The first three address human nature and the definition of conscience. The rest are addressed at various virtues or behaviors, and the reasoning in them provides a system or method of ethics.
At the time these were delivered, Butler had two roles: he was rector of Stanhope (a sinecure which provided him a living) and the chaplain at the Chancellery. The Rolls chapel was actually within the facilities of the ‘Master of the Rolls’, the rolls being the records of the Chancellery Court. This partly accounts for the complexity of some of the reasoning, since his audience was the lawyers working for or arguing before the courts in the surrounding complex known as the ‘Inns of Chancellery’.
This work, along with his “Analogy of Religion…” (1736) were also important as a refutation of the philosophy of ‘ethical egoism’ largely championed by Thomas Hobbes.

Butler went on to an illustrious career as an Anglican Devine, serving as chaplain to Queen Caroline (wife of George II) and Bishop of Bristol and later of Durham. He served in the House of Lords, and is recognized as a saint in the Anglican Church. The power of his apologetic methods and reasoning is still represented in such modern authors as C.S. Lewis.
… (more)
1 vote
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ServusLibri | 1 other review | Jul 23, 2008 |
http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/06/16.html
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3150
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Butler

Sermons upon the following subjects. Upon Humane Nature. Upon the Government of the Tongue. Upon Compassion. Upon the Character of Balaam. Upon Resentment. Upon Forgiveness of Injuries. Upon Self-Deceit. Upon the Love of our Neighbour. Upon the Love of God. Upon the Ignorance of Man. Calf (spine professionally rebound) with blind stamping on boards. Very good.… (more)
 
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CountryCache | 1 other review | Jun 16, 2006 |

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Works
26
Also by
3
Members
396
Popularity
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Rating
3.8
Reviews
5
ISBNs
48
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