In Britain, William Paley's Natural Theology saw adaptation as evidence of beneficial "design" by the Creator acting through natural laws. All naturalists in the two English universities (Oxford and Cambridge) were Church of England clergymen, and science became a search for these laws. Geologists adapted catastrophism to show repeated worldwide annihilation and creation of new fixed species adapted to a changed environment, initially identifying the most recent catastrophe as the biblical flood. Some anatomists such as Robert Grant were influenced by Lamarck and Geoffroy, but most naturalists regarded their ideas of transmutation as a threat to divinely appointed social order. COUNT 5
QSN1 Whose work considered adaptation to be evidence of God's design? ANS1 William Paley's QSN2 What was the name of William Paley's book claiming divine beneficial design?  ANS2 Natural Theology QSN3 What religion were all naturalists working at the two English universities? ANS3 Church of England QSN4 How did most naturalists view the concept of transmutation of species? ANS4 a threat to divinely appointed social order. QSN5 How did geologists explain the creation of new species in keeping with their belief in divine creation? ANS5 adapted catastrophism to show repeated worldwide annihilation and creation of new fixed species adapted to a changed environment