The Problem of God in David Hume

Abstract

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.