ABSTRACT
Hume's theory of meaning depends entirely on his epistemology. Hume's philosophy is written from two perspectives. One explains the content and consequences of Hume's radical empiricist metaphysics and epistemology. Hume attempts to fit the external' world, the internal world and causal connections within the scope of a reality constituted by perceptions. The religious-relevant propensities, Hume thinks, tend to be elicited by emotions. This is a significant difference between the explanation of natural beliefs and the explanation of religious beliefs, though it is not the most important. On the whole, Hume's perspective puts both natural theology and natural theology beyond the pale. Hume stands with Berkeley in holding that the idea that a body can exist without secondary qualities is self-contradictory. In all fairness to Hume and to Demea and Philo in the Dialogues the idea that God exists, but God's properties are unknown and unknowable, is not unknown in theistic religion.
