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Part 9

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Dorothy Coleman
Affiliation:
Northern Illinois University
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Summary

1 But if so many difficulties attend the argument a posteriori, said Demea; had we not better adhere to that simple and sublime argument a priori, which, by offering to us infallible demonstration, cuts off at once all doubt and difficulty? By this argument too, we may prove the infinity of the divine attributes, which, I am afraid, can never be ascertained with certainty from any other topic. For how can an effect, which either is finite, or, for aught we know, may be so; how can such an effect, I say, prove an infinite cause? The unity too of the divine nature, it is very difficult, if not absolutely impossible, to deduce merely from contemplating the works of nature; nor will the uniformity alone of the plan, even were it allowed, give us any assurance of that attribute. Whereas the argument a priori

2 You seem to reason, Demea, interposed Cleanthes, as if those advantages and conveniences in the abstract argument were full proofs of its solidity. But it is first proper, in my opinion, to determine what argument of this nature you choose to insist on; and we shall afterwards, from itself, better than from its useful consequences, endeavour to determine what value we ought to put upon it.

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Chapter
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Hume: Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
And Other Writings
, pp. 63 - 67
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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  • Part 9
  • Edited by Dorothy Coleman, Northern Illinois University
  • Book: Hume: Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808449.014
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  • Part 9
  • Edited by Dorothy Coleman, Northern Illinois University
  • Book: Hume: Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808449.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Part 9
  • Edited by Dorothy Coleman, Northern Illinois University
  • Book: Hume: Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808449.014
Available formats
×