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The Political Theology of David Hume THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA The Political Theology of David Hume A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Philosophy Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Philosophy By Jonathan H. Krause Washington, D.C. 2015 The Political Theology of David Hume Jonathan H. Krause, Ph.D. Director: John McCarthy, Ph.D. Hume’s concern for religion is evidenced by his references to it throughout his works. Indeed, he claims in the Natural History that “every enquiry, which regards religion, is of the utmost importance.” Commentators have often treated Hume’s interest in religion as theoretical, as though he was primarily concerned to establish religion’s truth or falsity. Yet in the Essays and History of England he indicates that disputes over religious forms and beliefs are “frivolous” and “utterly absurd.” This raises an obvious question: if disagreements concerning religion are “frivolous” and “absurd,” then why are inquiries regarding religion of “the utmost importance”? Hume’s answer is political in nature. “Religion,” he says in the History, “can never be deemed a point of small consequence in civil government.” He there calls our attention to religious disputes not on detached theoretical grounds, but “only so far as they have influence on the peace and order of civil society.” This dissertation argues that the way to approach Hume on religion is through his understanding of the relationship between religion and political life, that is to say, through his “political theology.” To bring out different aspects of the political problem of religion, each of this dissertation’s four chapters focuses on the textual analysis of a particular work: A Treatise of Human Nature, The Natural History of Religion, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, and The History of England. The findings of this dissertation show that Hume’s critique of various religions concerns their effects on the liberty and stability of society. The dissertation also shows that Hume’s “remedy” for the oppressive and destabilizing effects of religion does not involve its elimination from society, but rather the curbing of its negative social effects. Hume holds that a secular civic education, “good government,” state-established religion, the advancement of the arts and sciences, and material prosperity curb people’s reliance on religion in moral, cultural, and political matters. Skeptical religious education, in particular, is central to Hume’s remedy, for opinions and habits must be shaped in order for people to look at religious questions as secondary (or even inimical) to the peace of society. This dissertation by Jonathan H. Krause fulfills the dissertation requirement for the doctoral degree in philosophy approved by John McCarthy, Ph.D., as Director, and by Michael Gorman, Ph.D., and Richard Hassing, Ph.D. as Readers. ____________________________________________ John McCarthy, Ph.D., Director ____________________________________________ Michael Gorman, Ph.D., Reader ____________________________________________ Richard Hassing, Ph.D., Reader ii The Political Theology of David Hume Introduction………..…...…………....………………………………………………………..1 Chapter One: The Political Theology of A Treatise of Human Nature Introduction.…......…………………………………………………………………………..19 Goal and Method of Chapter One..……..……………………………………………22 1. Hume’s Political Interest in Religion in the Treatise......................................................24 1.1 The Religious Milieu during the Time of the Treatise…………………………..25 1.2 Political and Theological Indications in the Treatise.………………………....…28 1.3 The “Science of Man” and “Natural Religion”…………………………………..35 2. How can Hume Critique Superstition?............................................................................39 2.1 Hume’s Theory of Perception……………………………………………………43 2.2 Hume’s Theory of Fiction and His Critique of Superstition.………..…………..47 3. Hume’s Critique of the Trivial Fictions: The Relation between Religious Superstition and the Poetic, Moral, and Political Fictions………………...…………51 3.1 Poetic Fiction: Poetic Enthusiasm and Religious Superstition…………………..52 3.2 Moral Fictions: God, Religion, Natural and Divine Law….……………………..55 3.3 The Political Fiction of Justice.…………………………………………………..62 3.3.1The Economic Basis of Justice…….…………………………………...63 3.3.2 Hume’s Genetic Account of Political Life and Justice……………..….68 3.3.3 Religious Superstition and the Political Fiction of Justice…….………74 4. Civic and Religious Education in the Treatise………………………………………….78 4.1 The Method of Education: Belief, Custom, Sympathy…………..……………..80 4.2 Regarding the Rules of Justice: A Means toward Industry and Prosperity…..…84 4.3 The Role of Pride and Reputation in Civic Education..………………………...87 4.4 Why Religious Education is Ineffective..………………………………………..93 Conclusion…...……………………………………………………………………………….98 iii Chapter Two: The Political Theology of The Natural History of Religion Introduction………………………………………………………………..………………101 Interpretations of the Natural History……….……………………………………...103 Aim and Method...…………………..……………………..…..…………………...112 1. The Origin of Religion in Human Nature……………………………………………..115 1.1 The Stated Aims of the Natural History…………………………...…………...115 1.2 The Principles of Polytheism…………………………………………………...119 1.3 The Principles of Theism……………………………………………..………...124 1.4 The Status of Christian Theism in the Natural History…………….……..........130 2. Hume’s Critique of Religion: Moral and Intellectual…………………………..……138 2.1 Morality and Religion…..………………………………………..……………..139 2.2 Reason and Religion..…………………………………………………………..149 3. Circumstances that Contribute to a Remedy for Religion…………………………..152 3.1 Education.………………………………………..……………………………..154 3.2 Good Government, Knowledge, Morality, and Economic Prosperity…....……163 Conclusion…….…………………………………………….……………………………..169 Chapter Three: The Political Theology of the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion Introduction……………..…………………………………………………………………173 1. Pamphilus: Pedagogue and Pupil…...…………………………………………………184 1.1 The Setting of the Dialogues.………………………………..………………….185 1.2 Pamphilus’s Opening Remarks……………………..………………………..…187 2. The Methods of Instruction.…………………………………………………………....194 2.1 Demea’s Method: Vulgar Skepticism…………………………………………..195 2.2 Cleanthes’s Method: Reason and Argument....…………………………………202 2.3 Philo’s Method: Inculcating Indifference....…………………………………….215 3. Conclusion: Pamphilus’s Final Words…………………………………………...…...248 iv Chapter Four: The Political Theology of The History of England Introduction…………………………………………………………..……………………255 1. Hume: Impartial Historian…………………………………………………………….264 1.1 Critical Commentary …………………...………………..………………..........264 1.2 The Politics of Impartiality……………………………….…………………….273 1.2.1 Authority and Liberty…………………………….……………….….273 1.2.2 Hume: Ancient and Modern.……………………..…………………..277 1.3 A Humean, Historical Education……………………………………………….285 1.3.1 History: The Path to Progress.………….…………………………….286 1.3.2 History as Vulgar and Political Education……………………………288 2. The Politics of Catholic Superstition…………………………………………………..293 2.1 The Papal Plan of Slavery…………………………………………………........293 2.2 The Political Advantages of Catholic Superstition……………………………..307 3. The Politics of Puritan Enthusiasm……………...…………………………………….312 3.1 Rekindling the Spark of Freedom………………………………………………313 3.2 Puritan Anarchy and Tyranny…………………………………………………..318 4. Religious Establishment and Toleration……...……………………………………….326 4.1 Religious Establishment……………………………….………………………..328 4.2 Toleration……………...……..…………………………………………………334 4.2.1 The Origins of Toleration in an Age of Persecution……………….....335 4.2.2 When Toleration Is Justly Rejected……..…………...………….........341 4.3 Conclusion: The Pragmatic Basis for Toleration……...……….……………….347 Conclusion……………………...………………………………………………………….351 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………..360 v Abbreviations DNR: Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. Edited with introduction by Norman Kemp Smith. 2nd ed. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1947. DP: A Dissertation on the Passions, in A Dissertation on the Passions; The Natural History of Religion. Edited with introduction and notes by Tom L. Beauchamp. The Clarendon Edition of the Works of David Hume. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. EHU: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Edited with introduction and notes by Tom L. Beauchamp. The Clarendon Edition of the Works of David Hume. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. EPM: An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. Edited with introduction and notes by Tom L. Beauchamp. The Clarendon Edition of the Works of David Hume. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. References to “A Dialogue” will be cited from this edition. HE: The History of England from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to The Revolution in 1688. 6 vols. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1983. NHR: The Natural History of Religion, in A Dissertation on the Passions; The Natural History of Religion. Edited with introduction and notes by Tom L. Beauchamp. The Clarendon Edition of the Works of David Hume. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. SE: “Superstition and Enthusiasm,” in Essays Moral, Political, and Literary. Edited by Eugene F. Miller. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1987. T: A Treatise of Human Nature. Edited with introduction and notes by David F. and Mary J. Norton. The Clarendon Edition of the Works of David Hume. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. All references to the Treatise, its Appendix, its Abstract,
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