Hume’s Reflection on Religion (International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées Book 178)

**`**This scholar and well-written volume addresses itself first and foremost to Hume specialists, but also to those with deep-going interest in selected topics in the philosophy of religion and in philosophical theory.**'** **Acta Comparanda XIII** Title page 3 Copyright Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 PREFACE 10 INTRODUCTION 13 PART I Hume's Scrutiny of Religion:Its Theoretical Foundations, Historical Roots,and Ultimate Goals 22 CHAPTER 1 Hume's Philosophical Projectand his Reflection on Religion 23 1.1 1BE "SCIENCE OF MAN" AS FIRST PHILOSOPHY: ITS NATURE ANDPROBLEMATICAL CHARACTER 23 1.2 HUME'S FIRST PHILOSOPHY ANDmE REFLECTION ON RELIGION 40 CHAPTER 2 Brief Historical Settingof Hume's Investigation of Religion 43 2.1 THE RISE AND FALL OF NATURAL RELIGION 43 PART II The Origin, Development and Historical EffectsofReligious Beliefs 67 CHAPTER 3 The Nature of Hume's Investigation of Religion 68 CHAPTER 4 The Conception ofthe Phenomenon to be Investigated 75 4.1 TIlE PERMANENT ESSENCE OF RELIGION 75 4.2 THE NATURAL AI.,lHOUGH NOT INSTlNCfIVE CHARACfER OF RELIGION 84 CHAPTER 5 The Origin of Religion:Critical Exposition of Hume's Theory 95 CHAPTER 6 Religion and History 116 6.1 THE CONCEPTION OF HISTORY IN THE NATURAL HISTORY OF RELIGION 116 6.2 TIlE CONCEPTION OF HISTORY IN TIlE HISTORY OF ENGLAND 126 6.3 TIIE CONCEPTION OF HISTORY IN HIS ESSAYS 132 CHAPTER 7 Belief and Faith 137 7.1 THE PROBLEM 137 7.2 ORDINARY BELIEF ABOUT MATIERS OF FACT 139 7.3 RELIGIOUS FAITH 148 CHAPTER 8 The Ethical Depreciation of Religion 162 8.1 INTRODUCTION 162 8.2 THE MORAL HARMFULNESS OF RELIGION 163 8.3 CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF HUME'S CLAIM 170 8.4 1lIE POLITICAL AND AESTIffiTIC RE-EVALUATION OF RELIGION 178 8.5 CONCLUDING REMARKS 180 PART III Hume's Natural Theology: The Critiqueof the Presumed Validity of Religious Beliefs 182 CHAPTER 9 From Historical Religion to Natural Religion 183 9.1 VULGAR VS. PHILOSOPHICAL RELIGION 183 9.2 GENERAL REMARKS CONCERNING TIlE CRITIQUE OF NATURAL RELIGION 194 CHAPTER 10 The Impassable Path of A Priori Reasoning:Analysis ofHume's Critique of theOntological Argument and Its Foundations 198 10.1 PIETY AND TIIE PROOF 198 10.2 HUME'S CRITIQUE AND ITS FOUNDATIONS 199 10. 3 TIffi SEVERING OF TIlE COMMON TIIREAD OF TIlE ONfOLOGICAL ANDCOSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENfS: TIlE IDEA OF NECESSARY EXISTENCE 206 10.4 THE ONTOLGIIOGICAL ARGUMENT AND THE REJECTION OF THE PROPERTY EXISTENCE 209 10.5 SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME'S ACCOUNTOF EXISTENCE AND NON-EXISTENCE 211 10.6 THE DISCREET HISTORICAL EFFECT OF HUME'S CRITIQUE 217 CHAPTER 11 The Rejection of Miracles: An Attempt to Elucidatethe Import of Hume's Critique 220 11.1 HISTORICAL NOTE 220 11.2 ANALYSIS OF HUME'S ARGUMENT 225 11.3 VARIOUS OBJECTIONS TO HUME'S PROCEDURE 232 11.4 LOCKE'S POSITION ON THE EVIDENTIAL VALUE OF MIRACLESAND ITS AFFINITY WITH HUME'S 238 11.5 HUME'S CONCLUSION ANDTHE RELAnON OF SECf. X TO SECf. XI OF THE ENQUIRY 240 CHAPTER 12 The Uncertain Path of Empirical Reasoning, Part I:The Unfolding of Hume's Critiqueof the Argument from Design 243 12.1 INTRODUCTION 243 12.2 THE CRITIQUE IN A TREATISE OF HUMAN NATURE 243 12.3 THE CRITIQUE IN AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING 247 12.4 THE CRITIQUE IN THE NATURAL HISTORY OF RELIGION 254 CHAPTER 13 The Uncertain Path of Empirical Reasoning, Part II:The Critique of the Argument from Design in theDialogues Concerning Natural Religion 257 13.1 PRELIMINARY REMARKS 257 13.2 HERMENEUTIC DIFFICULTIES OF THE DIALOGUES 258 13.3 THE CRITIQUE OF THE DESIGN HYPOTHESIS (INTRODUCTION, PARTS I-V) 263 13.4 TIlE NATURALISTIC ALTERNATIVES TO THEISM: HYLOZOISMAND MATERIALISM (pARTS VI-IX) 272 13.5 THE ANTI-THEODICY (PARTS X AND XI) 281 13.6 HOME'S MITIGATED THEISM (PART XII) 291 PART IV General Conclusions 303 CHAPTER 14 The Natural and Reasonable Character of the Beliefin an Intelligent Author of the Universe 304 BIBLIOGRAPHY 315 I. HUME'S WRITINGS 315 II. WRITINGS OF OTHER AUTIIORS 315 INDEX 326 ARCHIVES INTERNATIONALES D'HISTOIRE DES IDEES* INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE HISTORY OF IDEAS 334 Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-9 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 Hume’s Philosophical Project and his Reflection on Religion....Pages 13-32 Brief Historical Setting of Hume’s Investigation of Religion....Pages 33-56 Front Matter....Pages 57-57 The Nature of Hume’s Investigation of Religion....Pages 59-65 The Conception of the Phenomenon to be Investigated....Pages 66-85 The Origin of Religion: Critical Exposition of Hume’s Theory....Pages 86-106 Religion and History....Pages 107-127 Belief and Faith....Pages 128-152 The Ethical Depreciation of Religion....Pages 153-172 Front Matter....Pages 173-173 From Historical Religion to Natural Religion....Pages 175-189 The Impassable Path of A Priori Reasoning: Analysis of Hume’s Critique of the Ontological Argument and Its Foundations....Pages 190-211 The Rejection of Miracles: An Attempt to Elucidate the Import of Hume’s Critique....Pages 212-234 The Uncertain Path of Empirical Reasoning, Part I: the Unfolding of Hume’s Critique of the Argument from Design....Pages 235-248 The Uncertain Path of Empirical Reasoning, Part II: The Critique of the Argument from Design in the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion ....Pages 249-294 Front Matter....Pages 295-295 The Natural and Reasonable Character of the Belief in an Intelligent Author of the Universe....Pages 297-307 Back Matter....Pages 309-336 This Book Presents A Comprehensive Interpretation Of Hume's 'serious Reflection' On Religion From The Perspective Afforded By His Philosophical Project And Its Enlightened Ends. I Relate His Account Of The Origin, Development, And Significant Effects Of Religious Beliefs To His Own Historical Works, And Conversely Take The Former As The Leading Thread Into The Disclosure Of A Humean Philosophy Of History. I Also Critically Analyze His Views About The Eminently Irrational And Feigned Character Of Most Religious Faith And Its Inevitable Negative Effect On Morality. Finally, I Examine Hume's Attack On The Validity Of The Conclusions Of Rational Theology. Reasonable Support Is Provided For The Claim That The Belief In God, As An Intelligent Author Of The Universe, Is A Natural And Reasonable Belief. This Work May Interest Both Scholars And General Readers Who Are Intrigued Or Troubled By Religion And The Issues 'of The Utmost Importance' Which It Raises. ` This scholar and well-written volume addresses itself first and foremost to Hume specialists, but also to those with deep-going interest in selected topics in the philosophy of religion and in philosophical theory. ' Acta Comparanda XIII