Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
by David Hume
'Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion' Summary
In the Dialogues, Hume's characters debate a number of arguments for the existence of God, and arguments whose proponents believe through which we may come to know the nature of God. Such topics debated include the argument from design—for which Hume uses a house—and whether there is more suffering or good in the world (argument from evil).
Hume started writing the Dialogues in 1750 but did not complete them until 1776, shortly before his death. They are based partly on Cicero's De Natura Deorum. The Dialogues were published posthumously in 1779, originally with neither the author's nor the publisher's name.
In The Blind Watchmaker (1986), evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins discussed his choice to title his book after theologian William Paley's famous statement of the teleological argument, the watchmaker analogy, and noted that Hume's critique of the argument from design as an explanation of design in nature was the initial criticism that would ultimately be answered by Charles Darwin in On the Origin of Species (1859). In the second part of the Dialogues (1779), the character Philo observes that animal reproduction appears to be more responsible for the intricacies and order of organic bodies rather than intelligent design.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1779Author
David Hume
Scotland
David Hume was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, librarian and essayist, who is best known today for his highly influential system of philosophical empiricism, scepticism, an...
More on David HumeDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
The Ethics of Belief by William Clifford
This is an essay on decision biases and a critique on prejudices, neatly written and thought provoking.
From Passion to Peace by James Allen
The first three parts of this book, Passion, Aspiration, and Temptation, represent the common human life, with its passion, pathos, and tragedy. The l...
The Science of Being Great by Wallace D. Wattles
The Science of Being Great is the second book of Wattles’ triology. In this volume he argues that the power of thought and positive self-esteem is the...
How to Analyze People on Sight Through the Science of Human Analysis: The Five Human Types by Elsie Lincoln Benedict
How to Analyze People on Sight or How to Analyze People on Sight Through the Science of Human Analysis: The Five Human Types is a 1921 book by Elsie L...
Thought Vibration, or The Law of Attraction in the Thought World by William Walker Atkinson, Theron Q. Dumont
William Walker Atkinson was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement.
Your Invisible Power by Genevieve Behrend
Unlock the power to be happy regardless of the things you desire learn to find the happiness within yourself. Your Invisible Power Audiobook by Genevi...
The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment by Elisabeth Celnart
The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment
The Human Machine by Arnold Bennett
Bennett asks us to consider our brains as the most wonderful machine, a machine which is the only thing in this world that we can control. As he write...
The Majesty of Calmness by William George Jordan
Change your life by changing your thoughts. The Majesty of Calmness is your guide to attracting prosperity, manifesting opportunities, and managing st...
Mental Efficiency – Mental Exercises by Arnold Bennett
Mental Efficiency , a light hearted yet thought-provoking collection of articles, Bennett offers his thoughts on exercising the mind, organising your...
Reviews for Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
No reviews posted or approved, yet...