The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy

William Paley (author)
D.L. Le Mahieu (foreword)

This classic work by William Paley was one of the most popular books in England and America in the early nineteenth century. Its significance lies in the fact that it marks an important point at which eighteenth century “whiggism” began to be transformed into nineteenth century “liberalism.”

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Contents
Foreword
Select Bibliography
To The Right Reverend Edmund Law, D.D. Lord Bishop of Carlisle
Preface
The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy
Book I: Preliminary Considerations
Chapter 1: Definition and Use of the Science
Chapter 2: The Law of Honour
Chapter 3: The Law of the Land
Chapter 4: The Scriptures
Chapter 5: The Moral Sense
Chapter 6: Human Happiness
Chapter 7: Virtue
Book II: Moral Obligation
Chapter 1: The Question Why Am I Obliged to Keep My Word? Considered
Chapter 2: What We Mean When We Say a Man Is Obliged to Do a Thing
Chapter 3: The Question, Why Am I Obliged to Keep My Word? Resumed
Chapter 4: The Will of God
Chapter 5: The Divine Benevolence
Chapter 6: Utility
Chapter 7: The Necessity of General Rules
Chapter 8: The Consideration of General Consequences Pursued
Chapter 9: Of Right
Chapter 10: The Division of Rights
Chapter 11: The General Rights of Mankind
Book III: Relative Duties
part i: OF RELATIVE DUTIES WHICH ARE DETERMINATE
Chapter 1: Of Property
Chapter 2: The Use of the Institution of Property
Chapter 3: The History of Property
Chapter 4: In What the Right of Property Is Founded
Chapter 5: Promises
Chapter 6: Contracts
Chapter 7: Contracts of Sale
Chapter 8: Contracts of Hazard
Chapter 9: Contracts of Lending of Inconsumable Property
Chapter 10: Contracts Concerning the Lending of Money
Chapter 11: Contracts of Labour Service
Chapter 12: Contracts of Labour Commissions
Chapter 13: Contracts of Labour Partnership
Chapter 14: Contracts of Labour Offices
Chapter 15: Lies
Chapter 16: Oaths
Chapter 17: Oath in Evidence
Chapter 18: Oath of Allegiance
Chapter 19: Oath Against Bribery in the Election of Members of Parliament
Chapter 20: Oath Against Simony
Chapter 21: Oaths to Observe Local Statutes
Chapter 22: Subscription to Articles of Religion
Chapter 23: Wills
part ii: OF RELATIVE DUTIES WHICH ARE INDETERMINATE
Chapter 1: Charity
Chapter 2: Charity The Treatment of Our Domestics and Dependants
Chapter 3: Slavery
Chapter 4: Charity Professional Assistance
Chapter 5: Charity Pecuniary Bounty
Chapter 6: Resentment
Chapter 7: Anger
Chapter 8: Revenge
Chapter 9: Duelling
Chapter 10: Litigation
Chapter 11: Gratitude
Chapter 12: Slander
part iii: OF RELATIVE DUTIES WHICH RESULT FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SEXES
Chapter 1: Of the Public Use of Marriage Institutions
Chapter 2: Fornication
Chapter 3: Seduction
Chapter 4: Adultery
Chapter 5: Incest
Chapter 6: Polygamy
Chapter 7: Of Divorce
Chapter 8: Marriage
Chapter 9: Of the Duty of Parents
Chapter 10: The Rights of Parents
Chapter 11: The Duty of Children
Book IV: Duties to Ourselves
Chapter 1: The Rights of Self-Defence
Chapter 2: Drunkenness
Chapter 3: Suicide
Book V: Duties Towards God
Chapter 1: Division of These Duties
Chapter 2: Of the Duty and of the Efficacy of Prayer, so far as the Same Appear from the Light of Nature
Chapter 3: Of the Duty and Efficacy of Prayer as Represented in Scripture
Chapter 4: Of Private Prayer, Family Prayer, and Public Worship
Chapter 5: Of Forms of Prayer in Public Worship
Chapter 6: Of the Use of Sabbatical Institutions
Chapter 7: Of the Scripture Account of Sabbatical Institutions
Chapter 8: By What Acts and Omissions the Duty of the Christian Sabbath Is Violated
Chapter 9: Of Reverencing the Deity
Book VI: Elements of Political Knowledge
Chapter 1: Of the Origin of Civil Government
Chapter 2: How Subjection to Civil Government Is Maintained
Chapter 3: The Duty of Submission to Civil Government Explained
Chapter 4: Of the Duty of Civil Obedience, as Stated in the Christian Scriptures
romans xiii. 1–7
1 peter ii. 13–18
Chapter 5: Of Civil Liberty Civil Liberty is the not being restrained by any law, but what conduces in a greater degree to the public welfare.
Chapter 6: Of Different Forms of Government
Chapter 7: Of the British Constitution
Chapter 8: Of the Administration of Justice
Chapter 9: Of Crimes and Punishments
Chapter 10: Of Religious Establishments and of Toleration
Chapter 11: Of Population and Provision; and of Agriculture and Commerce, as Subservient Thereto
Chapter 12: Of War, and Military Establishments

The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy

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Property Rights

We may judge what would be the effects of a community of right to the productions of the earth, from the trifling specimens which we see of it at present. A cherry-tree in a hedge-row, nuts in a wood, the grass of an unstinted pasture, are seldom of much advantage to any body, because people do not…

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Origin of Government

Smoothly as this train of argument proceeds, little of it will endure examination. The native subjects of modern states are not conscious of any stipulation with the sovereigns, of ever exercising an election whether they will be bound or not by the acts of the legislature, of any alternative being…

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