Between 1650 and 1800, some naturalists, such as Benoît de Maillet, produced theories that maintained that the universe, the Earth, and life, had developed mechanically, without divine guidance.
Antara 1650 dan 1800, beberapa naturalis, seperti Benoît de Maillet, membuat teori-teori yang menyatakan bahwa alam semesta, Bumi dan kehidupan berkembang secara mekanis, tanpa campur tangan ilahi.