Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- CHAPTER I ASTRONOMICAL Discoveries
- CHAPTER II Astronomical Objection to Religion
- CHAPTER III The Answer from the Microscope
- CHAPTER IV Further Statement of the Difficulty
- CHAPTER V Geology
- CHAPTER VI The Argument from Geology
- CHAPTER VII The Nebulsæ
- CHAPTER VIII The Fixed Stars
- CHAPTER IX The Planets
- CHAPTER X Theory of the Solar System
- CHAPTER XI The Argument from Design
- CHAPTER XII The Unity of the World
- CHAPTER XIII The Future
CHAPTER VII - The Nebulsæ
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- CHAPTER I ASTRONOMICAL Discoveries
- CHAPTER II Astronomical Objection to Religion
- CHAPTER III The Answer from the Microscope
- CHAPTER IV Further Statement of the Difficulty
- CHAPTER V Geology
- CHAPTER VI The Argument from Geology
- CHAPTER VII The Nebulsæ
- CHAPTER VIII The Fixed Stars
- CHAPTER IX The Planets
- CHAPTER X Theory of the Solar System
- CHAPTER XI The Argument from Design
- CHAPTER XII The Unity of the World
- CHAPTER XIII The Future
Summary
I have attempted to show that, even if we suppose the other bodies of the universe to resemble the Earth, so far as to seem, by their materials, forms, and motions, no less fitted than she is to be the abodes of life; yet that, knowing what we do of man, we can believe that the Earth is tenanted by a race who are the special objects of God's care. Even if the tendency of the analogies of creation were, to incline us to suppose that the other planets are as well suited as our globe, to have inhabitants, still it would require a great amount of evidence, to make us believe that they have such inhabitants as we are; while yet such evidence is altogether wanting. Even if we knew that the stars were the centers of revolving systems, we should have an immense difficulty in believing that an Earth, with such a population as ours, revolves about any of them. If astronomy made a plurality of worlds probable, we have strong reasonings, drawn from other subjects, to think that the other worlds are not like ours.
The admirers of astronomical triumphs may perhaps be disposed to say, that when so much has been discovered, we may be allowed to complete the scheme by the exercise of fancy. I have attempted to show that we are not in such a state of ignorance, when we look at other relations of the earth and of man, as to allow us to do this.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Of the Plurality of WorldsAn Essay, pp. 113 - 139Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1853