Robert Boyle, the Bible, and Natural Philosophy

The great chemist Robert Boyle was also a serious student of the Bible and Christian theology, both which profoundly influenced his natural philosophy. beliefs moral attitudes motivated him to extend human dominion over creation by advancing scientific knowledge giving medicines from laboratory poor. His outspoken advocacy empiricism, against those who believed that unaided reason sufficient probe depths nature, rooted in conviction free, wise, powerful Creator knows far better than we creatures ever will. He vigorously promoted what he called “the mechanical philosophy”, partly because found it more theologically attractive pagan Greek conception taught universities, conceived “Nature” as semi-divine being with mind powers its own. It underscored complexity world machine, requiring an intelligent have assembled it—thereby (he hoped) moving people not only acknowledge God but live piously humbly.