Hume's true religion
Following J.C.A. Gaskin, this thesis adopts the position that Hume was a subscriber to a form of attenuated deism, i.e., That he was committed to the view that the original cause of the universe was an extra-mundane, non-moral, non-intervening, intelligent deity who never displays any form of concern or care for the creatures that have come to inhabit its creation. The aim of the thesis is to show how Hume's major writings on religion and religious concerns converge on this conclusion, either directly or by way of defeating possible religious challenges to such a limited conception of the divine nature. My chief concern has been to establish that the above detailed conception of the original cause of the universe does indeed represent Hume's own position on this matter. I have attempted to show that Hume's commitment to such a supernatural or extra-mundane cause of the universe is perfectly consistent with his more general epistemological claims as to the limits of human knowledge. In Chapter One I focus on Hume's increasingly severe criticisms of the design argument for the existence of God. In Chapters Two, Three and Four I address Hume's own attenuated deism, its content, status and rationale. Chapter Five
Marshall, P. C.
Hume's true religion. Following J.C.A. Gaskin, this thesis adopts the position that Hume was a subscriber to a form of attenuated deism, i.e., That he was committed to the view that the original cause of the universe was an extra-mundane, non-moral, non-intervening, intelligent deity who never displays any form of concern or care for the creatures that have come to inhabit its creation. The aim of the thesis is to show how Hume's major writings on religion and religious concerns converge on this conclusion, either directly or by way of defeating possible religious challenges to such a limited conception of the divine nature. My chief concern has been to establish that the above detailed conception of the original cause of the universe does indeed represent Hume's own position on this matter. I have attempted to show that Hume's commitment to such a supernatural or extra-mundane cause of the universe is perfectly consistent with his more general epistemological claims as to the limits of human knowledge. In Chapter One I focus on Hume's increasingly severe criticisms of the design argument for the existence of God. In Chapters Two, Three and Four I address Hume's own attenuated deism, its content, status and rationale. Chapter Five
hume true religion following adopt position hume form commit view original cause universe extra mundane non moral non intervening intelligent deity never display form concern care come inhabit creation aim_show hume major writing religion religious concern converge conclusion either_directly way defeat possible religious challenge limit conception divine nature chief concern establish detailed conception original cause universe indeed represent hume_position matter attempt_show hume commitment supernatural extra mundane cause universe perfectly consistent general epistemological claim limit human_knowledge focus hume increasingly severe criticism design argument_existence god three_four address hume content status rationale