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Classic quotes: Hume

You propose then, Philo, said Cleanthes, to erect religious faith on philosophical scepticism; and you think, that if certainty or evidence be expelled from every other subject of enquiry, it will all retire to these theological doctrines, and there acquire a superior force and authority. Whether your scepticism be as absolute and sincere as you pretend, we shall learn by and by, when the company breaks up: we shall then see, whether you go out at the door or the window; and whether you really doubt if your body has gravity, or can be injured by its fall; according to popular opinion, derived from our fallacious senses, and more fallacious experience. [Hume, Dialogues on Natural Religion]

One Comment

  1. Kel Kel

    I really enjoyed this comment when reading Dialogues, but not being a philosopher I wasn’t really sure whether this argument was decisive or that the counter offered by Philo was satisfactory.

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