David Hume's philosophical contributions and legacy

David Hume

Philosophy

What is the difference between being and nature in relation to God, and how do these terms relate between cleanthe, dema and philo?

Being shows God's existence and that he created human beings in his own image and likeness which means human beings resembles God. It also shows how long God has been in existence (He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow). While Nature shows the attributes of God such as perfection, universal and infinite. These terms relate between Clenthe, Demae and Philo in such a way that they were all created in God's image and likeness.

(finite, weak and blind creatures, we ought to humble ourselves in His august presence & #8230; adore in silence His infinite perfection, pg141).

2.What portion of the debate does demea represent?

Demae represents Christians who believe that God exists. He says that people should humble themselves in God's presence and adore in silence his infinite perfection.

(He is a being, infinitely perfect… we ought not to imagine that He is clothed in human body, Pp 141-142)

3. What are Philo's views concerning Demea's argument?

Philo views Demae's argument as ridiculous since he feels that Damea is perfecting God for no good reason. Philo feels that whatever Demae is saying are just words that men honor. He feels that God is only important in the places of worship and He is more of the object of worship therefore He is not supposed to be discussed anywhere. Philo views Demae's views as a language which is just used by man.

(…and there is no more difficulty in conceiving, that the several elements, from internal unknown cause, may fall into the most exquisite arrangement… )

4. How does the tone or method of Philo's argument differ from Demea's argument?

The method of Demae's argument differs from that of Philo in such a way that Demae is talking positively about God without any doubt while Philo is supporting Demae at the same time he is disagreeing with him.

5. What portion of the debate does Cleanthes represent?

Cleanthes represents people who don't believe in Gods existence. He believes that God is given credit which He doesn't deserve. He presents people who feel that God's word is just a story told and not a reality.

(…that the proof of a Deity amounted to no more than a guess or conjecture. )

6. How does a posteriori used in relation to the argument?

Posteriori has been used to distinguish between the argument between Demae and Cleanthe. It is kind of a middle ground where there is resemblance between man and the Deity. "that the author of nature is somewhat similar to the mind of man; though possessed of much larger faculties, proportioned to the grandeur of the work, which he has executed," indicating that there is existence of Deity who has similarity to man but us more apportioned to the deeds and the works of His hands.

7. How is anthropomorphism used in relation to the argument?

Anthropomorphism is used in relation to this argument to compare human form and characteristics to God's. For example in the passage Damea imagines that the spirit of God has human ideas or bears resemblance to our spirit hence the Anthropomorphism.

8. How is analogy used in relation to the argument?

Analogy is used to compare human beings with God where in the passage Philo says that we ought not to imagine that the perfection of God and that of man can be compared. This is evident in the comparison in the blood circulation in man, and that in frogs and even the circulation of sap in plants, an analogy that Philo says "is confessedly liable to error and uncertainty."

9. What is the difference between analogical and logical reasoning?

Analogical reasoning is where one compares between two things that are similar while logical reasoning is where one gives sensible information which is only based on facts.

10. What are philo's views concerning Cleanthes' argument?

Philo views Cleanthes as a person who has some idea of what he is saying about God and Deity but at the same time disagreeing with him and discrediting his arguments. He also views Cleanthes' arguments and analogies as wanting in substance.