This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Daniel Defoe’s Moral and Political Thought in Its Religious Context Chienyuen Chen PhD Thesis The University of Edinburgh 2019 2 Abstract This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the religious ideas of the famous English journalist and novelist Daniel Defoe. Today, Defoe is best remembered as a novelist, but most of his works are non-fictional works including a sizable number of didactic or supernatural writings. Even though there is a rising scholarly interest in Defoe’s thoughts on subjects such as politics or Puritanism, there is hardly a single monograph devoted to Defoe’s religious ideas. This thesis aims to fill the gap by examining Defoe’s works throughout his career. It demonstrates that Defoe’s Presbyterian upbringing was influential in his emphasis on the ideas of good work, practical godliness, and the development of good habits. Furthermore, this thesis will demonstrate that Defoe proposed solutions to the problems of alcoholism and swearing in England of his age, on the basis of a neo-Augustinian view of human nature and his ideas on how to correct corrupt passions by manipulating other passions. Thus, Defoe shows that even though self-love and pride are impossible to eradicate, it was viable for the social and political elites to design a proper mechanism for the public to satisfy their vanity and meanwhile unintentionally improve their behaviour. Furthermore, this study offers a detailed examination of Defoe’s view of luxury in its contemporary context. It demonstrates that Defoe’s neo-Augustinian ideas of original sin and self- love are crucial to his argument about the futility of prohibiting consumption. Since luxury is a necessary vice that supports the livelihood of a vast number of people, it is prudent to ponder on the delicate difference between harmful squandering and healthy consumption. This thesis uses Defoe’s discussion of the dilemma of the businessmen 3 engaged in luxury trade to shed light on Defoe’s contribution to the contemporary luxury debate. Following this, Defoe’s political views are examined, in particular his criticism of divine right theory. There will be a particular focus on Defoe’s emphasis on original sin and the corrupted nature of political leaders. Based on Defoe’s close reading of the Old Testament, this thesis examines his explanation of Adam and the Fall, and the idea of the transition from patriarchy to monarchy. The thesis demonstrates that Defoe’s use of the biblical accounts of Saul, Rehoboam and Jeroboam was part of his debate with the High-Churchmen concerning the legitimacy of the reign of William and Mary. Based on his distinctive combination of an Augustinian understanding of sin and human nature, natural law theories and biblical exegesis, Defoe provided original interpretations of the Old Testament and used Scripture to convey political messages. The final chapter examines Defoe’s use of the past. Defoe insisted that Moses and the Hebrews were given the knowledge of letters directly from God, and this gift confirmed the status of the Hebrews as a chosen people. Moreover, Defoe had a particular interest in the Phoenicians’ achievements in navigation and trade, which were another proof of God’s favour. Defoe argued that, judging by the improvement England had achieved in his era, Britain was the genuine successor of these two ancient peoples. This thesis makes clear the central role that religion played in Defoe’s works. By probing into his Augustinian understanding of human nature and his frequent references to the Old Testament, this research sheds light on and deepens the current scholarship’s understanding of Defoe’s ideas of morals, commerce, politics, and history. 4 Lay Summary This thesis provides an analysis of an understudied dimension of the thought of Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), a journalist, novelist, and historian. Remembered foremost as a novelist today, Defoe’s non-fiction writings have long been neglected. Although scholars have begun to pay attention to Defoe’s works on subjects such as politics, economics and history, his religious ideas have not been examined to the same extent. In contrast, this thesis places him within the contexts of French Jansenism and English Dissent, in particular. Defoe derives his main religious ideas, which later form the essence of his works, from these backgrounds. This thesis argues that Defoe’s Jansenist view of human nature is reflected by his keen interest in pride, self-love and self- interest. These passions are so deeply rooted that they can never be removed. Instead of resorting to abstinence, Defoe proposes a practical solution of balancing passions with other passions. This attitude is central to his contribution to the Reformation of Manners movement during the turn of the 18th century, and to his apology for the luxury business against other intellectuals’ critiques. Furthermore, the thesis points out Defoe’s familiarity with and frequent quotations of the Old Testament, in particular in his moral and political thoughts. His critique of the divine right theory of the high churchmen was founded on Scripture and Defoe believed that the unfolding of human history offered an indication of God's will. His particular interest in the Phoenicians’ achievements in navigation and trade can be seen in this light. He argued that the excellence of Phoenician trade was proof of God's particular blessing. Defoe argued that Britain was the genuine successor of this ancient race, because of the degree of 5 improvement England had achieved in his lifetime. This thesis provides a new in-depth study of Defoe’s religious thought, and is based on fictional and non-fictional works from every period of his career. The deeper meanings of the understudied aspects of Defoe’s intellectual world can only be uncovered, as this thesis shows, by focusing on the role played by his religious thought. 6 Acknowledgements This thesis could not have been finished without the guidance of my supervisors Professors Adam Fox and Thomas Ahnert. Throughout these years in Edinburgh they always provided me with insightful remarks and warm encouragement. I am deeply grateful to them. I also have to thank my examiners Dr Alasdair Raffe and Professor Richard Whatmore for their careful reading and penetrating comments. This thesis was funded by the scholarship of the Ministry of Education of Taiwan, which I gratefully acknowledge. I am also indebted to Mr. Hillel for his advice on my English grammar. I owe further thanks to the fellowship of the Edinburgh Japanese Church, especially to Iwama Nobuyuki for many pleasant and helpful conversation during the years. I express my special gratitude to Reverend Jae-Hun Park and Young-Sook Park. I also have to thank scholars and friends who have helped me in many ways over these years: Jeng-Guo Chen, Alvin Chen, Fu Yang, Chien-shou Chen, Alexander Kais, Nuala Zahedieh, Felicity Green and Harry Dickinson. Last but not least, I am very grateful to my family, and friends, especially to Xiaona Wang. I reserve my greatest indebtedness to my parents for their years of unwavering support and unconditional love. 7 Abbreviations Used in References PEW Political and Economic Writings by Daniel Defoe, gen. eds W R. Owens and P. N. Furbank, 8 vols (London: Pickering &Chatto, 2000) SFS Satire, Fantasy and Writings on the Supernatural by Daniel Defoe, gen. eds W R. Owens and P. N. Furbank, 8 vols (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2003-4) TDH Writings on Travel, Discovery and History by Daniel Defoe, gen. eds W R. Owens and P. N. Furbank, 8 vols (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2001-2) RDW Religious and Didactic Writings of Daniel Defoe, gen. eds W R. Owens and P. N. Furbank, 10 vols (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2006–7) 8 Declaration I, Chienyuen Chen, declare that I composed this thesis, that all the work is my own and that the work has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. 9 10 Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 3 Lay Summary ........................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. 7 Abbreviations Used in References ........................................................................... 8 Declaration ................................................................................................................ 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 13 Biographical Sketch ...............................................................................................