On Instinct: A Lecture

by Richard Whately

On A Lecture (1847) is a book written by Richard Whately, an Irish Anglican theologian, logician, and writer. The book is a transcript of a lecture that Whately gave on the topic of instinct, which he defines as ""an untaught propensity to certain actions, independent of experience and observation."" In the lecture, Whately discusses the nature of instinct and its role in the animal kingdom. He argues that instinct is not a supernatural or divine force, but rather a product of natural selection and adaptation. He also explores the similarities and differences between instinct and reason, and how they interact in the behavior of animals and humans.Throughout the book, Whately draws on examples from the animal world, including birds, insects, and mammals, to illustrate his points. He also discusses the implications of his ideas for philosophy, theology, and ethics.Overall, On A Lecture (1847) is a thought-provoking exploration of a fascinating topic that continues to captivate scientists and thinkers to this day.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

36 pages, Paperback

Published November 21, 2009

About the author

English rhetorician, logician, economist, academic and theologian who also served as a reforming Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin. He was a leading Broad Churchman, a prolific and combative author over a wide range of topics. Whately was an important figure in the revival of Aristotelian logic in the early nineteenth century. Whately's view of rhetoric as essentially a method for persuasion became an orthodoxy, challenged in mid-century by Henry Noble Day.