Author: Richard Fiddes, D.D.
Title: A General Treatise of Morality Formed Upon the Principles of Natural Reason Only
Description: London, Billings, 1724. Leather. A traditionalist defence of God's benevolence and the innate distinction between good and evil. Richard Fiddes (1671-1725) was educated at Oxford, where he first earned his reputation as a hard drinker. He was nominally rector of Hailsham from 1696 but was allowed to be non-resident due to his 'ill health.' He moved to London to become a man of letters, but he suffered from poverty and is rumoured to have been imprisoned for debt at least once. Fiddes was then sometime chaplain to garrison at Hull, though he was a high-churchman with a passionate dislike of nonconformists and a limited support for the Hanoverians, and so lost the chaplaincy eventually. In this traditionalist, conformist treatise, he argues that 'the distinction of moral Good and Evil depends on the Nature of Things;' not on any positivist command of God, nor the 'general consent of mankind.' In a full calf binding. Externally, generally smart. Light rubbing to the boards. Internally, hinges tender but remains very firmly bound. Armorial bookplate of W. Wynne and bookplate of Professor David Arthur Palin on front pastedown; signature of "W. Wynne" at top of title-page, some headpieces and two tailpieces; some damp stains; small marks in margin on pp. 190-192. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .

Keywords: Religion Fiddes Evil Good Fiddes None


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