Context
In the 17th and 18th century, there were two conflicting philosophical outlooks which influenced thoughts and ideas concerning religion. On one hand, this time period saw a deepening relationship between philosophy and theology were many tried to provide a rational defence for Christian theology. On the other hand, there was a rise in skeptics who stood on the side of anti-clericalism, biblical criticism, and materialism. This debate was central in shaping Hume’s views on religion.
"When we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what havoc must we make? If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or numer? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existance? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion."
(Hume, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 12.34)
The Index Librorum Prohibitorum
The Index Librorum Prohibitorum was a list of books banned by the Roman Catholic Church under the pretense that their content was dangerous to the faith and morals of Roman Catholics. Interestingly, almost every Western philosopher was included on the list, even those that believed in God. However, Hume was one of the few whose entire collection of works was banned. Considering Hume’s view, it is not a surprise that his works were deemed to be dangerous to the faith of Roman Catholics. Hume argued in depth against the existence of God and other phenomena central to religious faith. In particular, Hume was concerned with discrediting the two of the most prominent arguments for God’s existence at the time: the design argument and the cosmological argument. These arguments were not sophisticated and abstract but constructed for the common theist to give their faith to. As such, questioning these arguments would equate to questioning one’s faith in God and consequently, the authority of the Church.
Against the Design and Cosmological Arguments
The design argument is as follows:
- Similar features: man-made machines and the world share features of order, structure, harmony, and parts which specialize in certain tasks.
- Not a coincidence: objects with the features described above have not come together by chance.
- Generalization: similar effects must rise from similar causes
Therefore, there must exist a God similar to human mind and intelligence which has caused these similar effects.
The cosmological argument is as follows:
- Cause and effect: everything which exists (effect) must have an origin (cause)
- Possession of perfection: any cause which produces perfections must itself posses those perfections.
- Ultimate cause: there cannot be an infinite succession of causes and effects which is caused by nothing.
Therefore, the universe (effect) must be the result of some intelligent, active, and perfect Being (cause).
Enquiry cumulates in the 11th and 12th chapters as an argument against the design and cosmological arguments for God’s existence. Hume effectively argues that cause and effect is unjustified, that we cannot make inductive generalizations, and that we cannot know the traits of some unknown Supreme Being. This disproof of logical arguments for theological ideologies and in general, Hume’s anti-theism was resolutely against that which the Church stood for.