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Why did Hume think the order of the universe could support polytheism or a limited god?
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Philosophy of religion
Detail of Religion, mural in lunette from the Family and Education series by Charles Sprague Pearce, 1897; in the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.
In his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, David Hume challenged the argument from design by questioning the nature of the inferred cause. He argued that even if one accepts that the order of the universe implies an intelligent designer, the evidence does not necessarily support the existence of the infinitely powerful and benevolent Creator of Christian faith.1
Hume’s reasoning included the following points:
- Imperfect Effects: Because the world contains significant amounts of pain and suffering, Hume argued that one cannot logically infer a designer with greater perfection than what is observed in the effect itself.1
- Limited Inferences: He contended that the universe is a unique, incomparable effect. Therefore, any qualities attributed to its cause—such as power, intelligence, or goodness—must be strictly limited to what is required to produce the observed order, rather than assuming infinite divine attributes.1
- Alternative Explanations: Hume suggested that the observed order might result from chance permutations of particles or inherent self-sustaining properties of matter, rather than an external, transcendent intelligence.1
Consequently, Hume maintained that the evidence of nature is insufficient to confirm a singular, perfect deity, leaving open the possibility of a limited god or even a polytheistic arrangement of causes.1