Hume's Position and Influence on Phillip's Philosophical System

D. Z. Phillips is one of the most important philosophers who believe in non-realism about religious language. He was highly influenced by Hume and believed Hume has criticized the arguments for the existence of God in three levels. Although he considers these criticisms as successful ones, by appealing to the hermeneutics of contemplation, he maintains that we should go beyond Hume and contemplate religious concepts. He separates his way from the proponents of hermeneutics of recollection and suspicion. According to him, we should understand religion through contemplating religious concepts and taking heed of the life of believers. In contrast to his claims, his interpretations about religious propositions such as the existence of God, prayer and immortality are not consistent with the believers’ ideas. Furthermore, he has neglected different versions of design argument. That’s why his investigations are incomplete. It can also be said that even though he attempted to go beyond the criteria of logical positivism, he could not do it.