Jonathan Edwards and His World of Harmony

Abstract

Edwards numerous reflections on natural philosophy and philosophical theology are scattered across his occasional writings, which include his commonplace notebooks, sermon-notebooks, and published treatises. By occasional writings, I refer to Edwards’ knack to record his reflections on the occasion upon which they came to him, as well as his impulse to speak and publish on the issues of the day, on the occasion that those issues arose and required a public response for the sake of his culture and society. In this way, Edwards functioned as a public intellectual.