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The ‘true religion’ of the sceptic: Penelhum reading Hume’s Dialogues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2020

Willem Lemmens
Willem Lemmens*
Affiliation:
Department of Ethics and Modern Philosophy, University of Antwerp, Priorijlaan 13, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
*
*Email: willem.lemmens@skynet.be
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Abstract

According to Terence Penelhum, Philo's confession in the last part of Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion reveals on the side of the author a reconciliatory and pacifying attitude towards the liberal moderate clergy of his days. This article investigates whether another reading of this intriguing text is not more appropriate. It defends the idea that Philo's speeches and Cleanthes’ reactions to it in the last part of the Dialogues reveal on Hume's side an attitude of mild despair and isolation towards the religious culture of eighteenth-century Scotland, in both its orthodox and more moderate form.

Keywords

Humetrue religionsuperstitionreligious scepticismTerence Penelhum

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