Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion is a philosophical work written by the Scottish philosopher David Hume. Through dialogue, three fictional characters named Demea, Philo, and Cleanthes debate the nature of God's existence. While all three agree that a god exists, they differ sharply in opinion on god's nature or attributes and how, or if, humankind can come to knowledge of a deity.

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.

Characters

• Cleanthes is a theist—"an exponent of orthodox Rationalism"presents a version of the teleological argument for God's existence using the deductive paradigm. He believes that instead of reason, people should base beliefs concerning God's nature off fideism. Cleanthes reject's Demea's "natural religion" for being too anthropomorphic. Cleanthes objects to the abandonment of the a priori ideas of Rationalism. He perceives Philo and Demea to be "selling out to Scepticism."[1
• Philo, according to the predominant view among scholars, "probably represents a viewpoint similar to Hume's own."^* Philo also questions Cleanthes' views on anthropomorphism.
• Demea "defends the Cosmological argument and philosophical theism...."^*

External links

• SparkNotes' Study Guide on Dialogues

Sources

• A Concise Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Religion, Anthony C. Thiselton

1779 books | Books by David Hume

Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion | Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion