Hume's 'Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion': A Reader's Guide (Reader's Guides) - Softcover

Pyle, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 082647568X ISBN 13: 9780826475688

Publisher: Continuum, 2006

Synopsis

Hume's Dialogues provide a classic exposition and critique of the famous 'Argument to Design' the attempt to prove the existence and properties of a designing intelligence or God from the phenomena of Nature, notably the functional contrivance of the parts of plants and animals. As such, it raises questions of central interest in both philosphy and theology. Philosophers will be concerned with the implications of strict empiricism for our claims to know anything of the existence and properties of God, and with it the associated threat of scepticism. Theologians will be concerned about the possibility of natural theology and the problematic relation between natural theology and the claims of revealed religions such as Christianity. This book will follow the layout of the Reader's Guide Series In 'Context' Pyle will explain the philosophical and theological background against which the book was written, including what is meant by 'natural' religion introduce hte reader to Enlightenment views on religion. 'Overview of Themes' will address the question of why Hume chose to write in dialogue form, sketch out the views of the three characters and introduce the questions they address. The 'Reading the Text' section will take take the 12 parts of Dialogues in turn and guide the reader throuhg the issues thrown up. Discussion points and questions will focus thinking and encourage the reader to engage with the primary text. 'Reception and Influence' will include discussion of Hume's influence on Kant and hte debates about Darwinism.

About this title

About the Author:

Andrew Pyle is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the Universtiy of Bristol, UK.

Review:

"This account of Hume's personal position has considerable plausibility, and the judicious way in which it is articulated by Pyle is representative of the overall merits of his book. Pyle consistently manages to combine clear exegetical guidance with a thoughtful presentation of alternative interpretations of Hume's intentions, and he also pulls off the feat of providing straightforward clarifications of specific argumentative moves in the Dialogues while developing in the background a unifying interpretation that will interest even people engaged in scholarly research on Hume's thinking about religion." —Alan Bailey, Philosophy in Review

“This account of Hume’s personal position has considerable plausibility, and the judicious way in which it is articulated by Pyle is representative of the overall merits of his book. Pyle consistently manages to combine clear exegetical guidance with a thoughtful presentation of alternative interpretations of Hume’s intentions, and he also pulls off the feat of providing straightforward clarifications of specific argumentative moves in the Dialogues while developing in the background a unifying interpretation that will interest even people engaged in scholarly research on Hume’s thinking about religion.” –Alan Bailey, Philosophy in Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Continuum
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 082647568X
• ISBN 13: 9780826475688
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 164