In This Famous Dialogue Philo (Who Reflects Hume's Views on the Subject)

question 10

True/False

In this famous dialogue Philo (who reflects Hume's views on the subject) gives us the classic critique of the argument from design. In the parts reproduced here, Cleanthes (the natural theologian) states the argument and asserts, "By this argument a posteriori, and by this argument alone, do we prove at once the existence of a Deity and his similarity to human mind and intelligence." Philo replies that the argument rests on an extremely weak analogy from which we can derive no more than a guess about a deity. The dissimilarities between the universe and a human-crafted machine are too great to draw the conclusion that Cleanthes seeks. We cannot, for example, draw a conclusion about the origin of the vast universe as a whole from a fact about the origin of a tiny part of the universe (a house or a ship, for instance). Furthermore, if we try to infer the nature of a Designer from facts about the natural world and human designers, we would have to conclude that the Designer may not be infinite (because the world is finite), may not be perfect (because nature is full of imperfections), and may not be single (because it is possible that the world was made by many deities).
-In the end, Demea gives up his belief in God.

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Definitions:

Agreeableness

Agreeableness is a personality trait characterized by warmth, kindness, and cooperativeness, reflecting an individual's tendency to prioritize social harmony and maintain positive relations with others.

Unsafe Behaviours

Actions that can lead to accidents, injuries, or other detrimental outcomes due to a lack of precaution or safety measures.

High Self-esteem

The positive perception and evaluation of oneself, characterized by confidence and a sense of worthiness.

Social Influences

The effects that the words, actions, or mere presence of other people have on an individual's thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or behavior.