The Problem of God in David Hume

This Element offers an up-to-date examination of Hume's main ideas and arguments relating to the question of God.

Anders Kraal (Author)

9781009494465, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 January 2024

62 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 0.9 cm, 0.24 kg

David Hume (1711-1776) is one of the foremost critics of attempts to provide rational arguments in support of traditional Christian theism in Western philosophy. In this Element, the authors examine Hume's chief objections to the cosmological argument, the design argument, and the argument from miracles, along with some main responses to these objections. The authors also examine Hume's seminal version of the argument from evil, which is deployed in an effort to show that traditional Christian theism is lacking in coherent meaning. Drawing on recent developments in Hume scholarship according to which Hume's ultimate philosophical aim was to further an anti-Christian agenda, an attempt is made to situate Hume's writings on God and religion in an unfolding narrative that is impacted throughout by the trenchant religious criticisms of Hume's chief philosophical predecessor, Thomas Hobbes.

1. Introduction
2. Overview of Hume's life and writings
3. The starting point: a Hobbesian challenge to traditional Christian theism
4. Cosmological arguments
5. Arguments from design
6. Arguments from miracles
7. Arguments from evil
8. The end result: a turn to Hobbesian theism
References.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of religion [HRAB]