Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Hume on Religion

Russell, Paul LU and Kraal, Anders (2005) In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Abstract
David Hume’s various writings concerning problems of religion are among the most important and influential contributions on this topic. In these writings Hume advances a systematic, sceptical critique of the philosophical foundations of various theological systems. Whatever interpretation one takes of Hume’s philosophy as a whole, it is certainly true that one of his most basic philosophical objectives is to discredit the doctrines and dogmas of traditional theistic belief. There are, however, some significant points of disagreement about the exact nature and extent of Hume’s irreligious intentions. One of the most important of these is whether Hume’s sceptical position leads him to a view that can be properly characterized as... (More)
David Hume’s various writings concerning problems of religion are among the most important and influential contributions on this topic. In these writings Hume advances a systematic, sceptical critique of the philosophical foundations of various theological systems. Whatever interpretation one takes of Hume’s philosophy as a whole, it is certainly true that one of his most basic philosophical objectives is to discredit the doctrines and dogmas of traditional theistic belief. There are, however, some significant points of disagreement about the exact nature and extent of Hume’s irreligious intentions. One of the most important of these is whether Hume’s sceptical position leads him to a view that can be properly characterized as “atheism”.

The primary aims of this article are: (1) to give an account of Hume’s main arguments as they touch on various particular issues relating to religion; and (2) to answer to the question concerning the general character of Hume’s commitments on this subject.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy : (Winter 2021 Edition) - (Winter 2021 Edition)
series title
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
editor
Zalta, Edward N.
publisher
Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University
ISSN
1095-5054
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
39c7e6d4-55c8-4ed1-8f65-da51391baf64
alternative location
https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2021/entries/hume-religion/
date added to LUP
2024-09-14 08:33:20
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:13:38
@inbook{39c7e6d4-55c8-4ed1-8f65-da51391baf64,
  abstract     = {{David Hume’s various writings concerning problems of religion are among the most important and influential contributions on this topic. In these writings Hume advances a systematic, sceptical critique of the philosophical foundations of various theological systems. Whatever interpretation one takes of Hume’s philosophy as a whole, it is certainly true that one of his most basic philosophical objectives is to discredit the doctrines and dogmas of traditional theistic belief. There are, however, some significant points of disagreement about the exact nature and extent of Hume’s irreligious intentions. One of the most important of these is whether Hume’s sceptical position leads him to a view that can be properly characterized as “atheism”.<br/><br/>The primary aims of this article are: (1) to give an account of Hume’s main arguments as they touch on various particular issues relating to religion; and (2) to answer to the question concerning the general character of Hume’s commitments on this subject.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Russell, Paul and Kraal, Anders}},
  booktitle    = {{Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy : (Winter 2021 Edition)}},
  editor       = {{Zalta, Edward N.}},
  issn         = {{1095-5054}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University}},
  series       = {{Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy}},
  title        = {{Hume on Religion}},
  url          = {{https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2021/entries/hume-religion/}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}