Cleanthes
modernEmpirical Theism / Natural ReligionCleanthes is a fictional interlocutor in David Hume's posthumously published Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779), representing the position of empirical theism. He defends the design argument for God's existence through experiential analogy, contending that the universe's order and complexity resemble the products of human intelligence and design. As the dialogue's advocate for natural religion, he consistently privileges probable empirical reasoning over purely a priori or demonstrative proofs.
Notable Achievements
1
Defends the analogical teleological argument: the universe resembles a machine, therefore probably has an intelligent designer
2
Argues that demonstrative a priori reasoning cannot establish conclusions about matters of fact or existence
3
Represents the epistemological middle position between Demea's rationalist dogmatism and Philo's radical skepticism
4
Articulates the view that religious belief must rest on probabilistic empirical inference rather than logical necessity
5
Serves as Hume's vehicle for examining the strongest available case for natural religion