The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes
The Temple of Nature, published in 1803, the year after his death, is the last long poem by Erasmus Darwin, the physician, inventor and grandfather of Charles Darwin. In four cantos of rhymed couplets, Darwin imagines a visit to a temple of Nature where a priestess explains the production of life from microscopic beginnings in the sea, its reproduction, the progress of the human mind and the balance of good and evil in the world. The poem is a vehicle for his speculative science, and the long philosophical notes at the end discuss spontaneous life, the senses, heredity, electricity and the origins of language. It anticipates, in verse, some of the evolutionary ideas of the following century. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first canto is free.
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Frequently asked questions about The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes
The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes by Erasmus Darwin can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes online?
Yes. The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes in the public domain?
Yes. The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes by Erasmus Darwin is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes?
About 5 h 07 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes?
The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes by Erasmus Darwin is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
