"A Letter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hume David)

Intention, changes entirely the Nature of an external Object, and
even of a human Creature. In fine (says he) as Force is supposed
to invalidate all Contracts, such a Principle is a Proof that
Promises have no natural Obligation, and are mere artificial
Contrivances, for the Conveniency and Advantage of Society."

Sum of the Charge.

From the preceeding Specimen it will appear, that the Author
maintains,

1. Universal Scepticism. See his Assertions, p.458, --470.
where he doubts of every Thing (his own Existence excepted)
and maintains the Folly of pretending to believe any Thing
with Certainty.

2. Principles leading to downright Atheism, by denying the
Doctrine of Causes and Effects, p.321, 138, 298, 300, 301,
303, 430, 434, 284. where he maintains, that the Necessity of
a Cause to every Beginning of Existence is not founded on any
Arguments demonstrative or intuitive.

3. Errors concerning the very Being and Existence of a God.
For Instance, Marginal Note, p.172. as to that Proposition,
God is, he says (or indeed as to any other Thing which regards
Existence)

"The Idea {18} of Existence is no distinct Idea which we
unite with that of the Object, and which is capable of
forming a compound Idea by Union."

4. Errors concerning God's being the first Cause, and prime
Mover of the Universe: For as to this Principle, That the
Deity first created Matter, and gave it its original Impulse,
and likewise supports its Existence, he says,

"This Opinion is certainly very curious, but it will
appear superfluous to examine it in this Place, &c."

5. He is chargable with denying the Immateriality of the Soul,
and the Consequences flowing from this Denial, p.431, 4, 418,
419, 423.

6. With sapping the Foundations of Morality, by denying the
natural and essential Difference betwixt Right and Wrong, Good
and Evil, Justice and Injustice; making the Difference only
artificial, and to arise from human Conventions and Compacts,
Vol. 2. p.5, 19, 128, 41, 43, 48, 69, 70, 73, 4, 44.

[Observations]