more from David Hume

Single Idea 21284

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / c. Teleological Proof critique]

Full Idea

[Maybe] this world ...was only the first essay of some infant deity ...or it is the work only of some dependent, inferior deity, the object of derision to his superiors ...or it is the product of the dotage of some superannuated deity...

Gist of Idea

This Creator god might be an infant or incompetent or senile

Source

David Hume (Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion [1751], Part 5)

Book Reference

'The Existence of God', ed/tr. Hick,John [Macmillan 1964], p.108


A Reaction

His opponent in the dialogue rejoices that, in the face of these sacreligious fantasies, Hume still accepts the likelihood of some sort of design. Hume is right that it is not much of a theory if nothing can be said about the Designer.