William Paley books in order
Christian apologist, natural theologian, utilitarian;
- Lived
- 1743–1805
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 7
William Paley published 5 non-fiction books and 2 other books, beginning with The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy (1785).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with William Paley
Start here
The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy
William Paley's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy (1785)
A View of the Evidences of Christianity (1794)
Natural Theology (1802)
The Works of William Paley (1822)
Other books in order
A View of the Evidences of Christianity, in Three Parts (1800)
Horae Paulinae (1810)
About William Paley
William Paley was an English Anglican clergyman, philosopher, abolitionist and utilitarian. He was at times referred to as a Christian apologist by his critics. He is best known for his natural theology exposition of the teleological argument for the existence of God in his 1802 work Natural Theology or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, which made use of the watchmaker analogy.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
William Paley FAQ
- How many books has William Paley written?
- William Paley published 5 non-fiction books and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read William Paley's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy.
- What is William Paley's last book?
- Natural Theology (1802).
- What is William Paley's most famous book?
- The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy (1785) is William Paley's most widely read book.
- Can I read William Paley's books for free?
- Yes. 1 book by William Paley is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like William Paley
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.