Another look at Hume's treatment of the argument from design in theNatural History of Religion

Abstract

AbstractThis article argues that Hume's seemingly peculiar treatment of the argument from design in hisNatural History of Religionis not indicative of a radical, or even modest, shift in his overall epistemic evaluation of it. His focus is on the argument's impact on the psychology of religious believers, and not its rational acceptability. Hume never strays far from his stated intention for the work, to engage in a socio-psychological analysis of the nature of religious belief, including a thorough assessment of the role of the argument from design. Hume concludes that the argument is inconsequential to religious belief formation.