The idea that nature was governed by laws was already common, and in 1833, William Whewell as a proponent of the natural theology that Paley had inspired had written that "with regard to the material world, we can at least go so far as this—we can perceive that events are brought about not by insulated interpositions of Divine power, exerted in each particular case, but by the establishment of general laws."
A idea de que a natureza foi gobernada por leis era xa común, e en 1833, William Whewell como propoñente da teoloxía natural que Paley inspirara escribira que "con respecto ao mundo material, podemos polo menos ir máis lonxe; podemos percibir que os eventos non son producidos por interposicións illadas do Divino poder, exercidas en cada caso particular, senón polo establecemento de leis xerais."