Joseph Priestley
In religion, Priestley, who had trained as a Presbyterian minister, gradually rejected Calvinism in favor of Unitarianism. His religious views, as seen in his books, the History of the Corruptions of Christianity and the History of Early Opinions concerning Jesus Christ, were regarded as controversial by the major Christian churches.
Also unorthodox and unpopular was his strong support for the French Revolution which led to his house (including his library and scientific instruments) in Birmingham being attacked and wrecked by a mob in 1791.
Priestley opposed slavery and colonialism. His book, Essay on Government suggested the idea of "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" to Jeremy Bentham.
Feeling excluded from society in England, Priestley emigrated to the United States in 1794.
Joseph Priestley (video)
Oxygen
Oxygen
Amazon Price: $27.50 (as of 12/14/2009)
Although it would be great fun to see Oxygen performed, the play makes an entertaining read. Its premise is that the Nobel Foundation, in honor of the centenary of the prize, decides to award a "retro-Nobel" for the discovery of oxygen-but should it go to Antoine Lavoisier, Joseph Priestly or Carl Wilhelm Scheele? The action alternates between 1777 and 2001, the tensions and ambiguities of the 18th century mirrored in the 21st. The play opens in a sauna in Stockholm, where the wives of the three scientists ("their bodies covered to various extents... Mrs. Priestly most decorously and Mme. Lavoisier most daringly") reveal the rivalry among their husbands. Oxygen is an imaginative addition to the long list of publications-from the sciences to poetry and fiction-by the distinguished authors. Djerassi is professor of chemistry at Stanford and perhaps best known as the inventor of the birth-control pill. Hoffmann is professor of chemistry at Cornell and a Nobel laureate.
Joseph Priestley (article)
During his lifetime, Priestley's considerable scientific reputation rested on his invention of soda water, his writings on electricity, and his discovery of several "airs" (gases), the most famous being what Priestley dubbed "dephlogisticated air" (oxygen). However, Priestley's determination to defend phlogiston theory and to reject what would become the Chemical Revolution eventually left him isolated within the scientific community.
Priestley's science was integral to his theology, and he consistently tried to fuse Enlightenment rationalism with Christian theism. In his metaphysical texts, Priestley attempted to combine theism, materialism, and determinism, a project that has been called "audacious and original". He believed that a proper understanding of the natural world would promote human progress and eventually bring about the Christian Millennium. Priestley, who strongly believed in the free and open exchange of ideas, advocated toleration and equal rights for religious Dissenters, which also led him to help found Unitarianism in England. The controversial nature of Priestley's publications combined with his outspoken support of the French Revolution aroused public and governmental suspicion; he was eventually forced to flee to the United States after a mob burned down his home and church in 1791.
A scholar and teacher throughout his life, Priestley also made significant contributions to pedagogy, including the publication of a seminal work on English grammar and the invention of modern historiography. These educational writings were some of Priestley's most popular works. It was his metaphysical works, however, that had the most lasting influence: leading philosophers including Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer credit them among the primary sources for utilitarianism.
Source: Wapedia
Priestley: Political Writings
Priestley: Political Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought)
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 12/14/2009)
Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) was arguably the most important English theorist to focus on the issue of political liberty during the English Enlightenment. His concept of freedom is of crucial importance to two of the major issues of his day: the right of dissenters to religious toleration, and the right of the American colonists to self-government. Priestley's writings lack a modern edition and this new collection will be the first to render accessible his Essay on First Principles, The Present State of Liberty and the Letter of Advice. An introduction and notes, and guides to further reading and key figures in the text provide the student with all the material necessary for approaching Priestley.
Joseph Priestley is one of the greatest intellectual figures of modern times. However, he should be remembered for more than just his great discoveries in the realm of science. His "Essay on the First Principles of Government" is a brilliant libertarian piece based on natural rights philosophy. He is a strong enemy of both established religion and public schooling. His eloquent advocacy of these positions as well as "freedom of thought" as a whole is still very much relevant today. It is a shame that his works have been so overlooked in recent times. This work is yet another example of how the wisdom of the 18th century is far greater than that of the 20th in many fields, most importantly political philosophy.
A History of the Corruptions of Christianity (by Joseph Priestley)
A History Of The Corruptions Of Christianity
Amazon Price: $40.38 (as of 12/14/2009)
An important and hard-to-find book on the religious views of Joseph Priestley, though the reprint quality leaves a bit to be desired.
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byJoseph Priestley and English Unitarianism in America
by Jerome D. Bowers
Joseph PRiestley and English Unitarianism in America
Amazon Price: $28.00 (as of 12/14/2009)
"This beautifully and persuasively written account of the contributions of Joseph Priestley and English Unitarianism to the development of liberal religious thought in nineteenth-century America offers a valuable contribution to the growing historiography on the transatlantic exchange of ideas in the early republic and on the role of religious thought in influencing political discourse on such topics as toleration and cultural identity. Professor Bowers renders complex issues of religious belief and denominational difference understandable while stressing their importance in a broader context of social, political, and intellectual history." -Mark D. McGarvie, History Department at the University of Richmond and author of One Nation under Law.
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