How long does it take to read The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy?
William Paley
The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy by William Paley takes about 9 hours 1 minute to read at 250 words a minute.
About 9 hours 1 minute
A week or two of reading
First published 1746. 492 pages, about 135,300 words.
19 days at 30 minutes a day
Estimate based on 275 words per page.
At other speeds
| Slow, 150 words a minute | 15 hours 2 minutes |
| Average, 250 words a minute | 9 hours 1 minute |
| Fast, 400 words a minute | 5 hours 38 minutes |
The page count is the median across 46 editions, so your copy may differ. How we calculate.
About the book
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." First published in 1785, Paley's Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy was originally based on his Cambridge lectures of 1766-1776. It was designed for instructional purposes and was almost immediately adopted as a required text for all undergraduates at Cambridge. The great popularity of Paley's Principles is perhaps due in part to the author's remarkable gift for clear exposition. Even today, this work is very readable and easily comprehended. But the popularity of the book also reflected the fact that Paley expressed some of the leading scientific, theological, and ethical ideas of his time and place. In this respect, Paley's great classic provides valuable insight into the Anglo-American mind of the early nineteenth century and helps us better understand the thinking processes and evolving concepts of liberty and virtue that were displacing the old "whiggism" of the preceding century. - Publisher.
Subjects: Utilitarianism, Ethics, Philosophy, Political science, Political science, philosophy
