I believe, too, we
coud both of us have kept our Temper very well; only, you
have not reach'd an absolute philosophical Indifference on
these Points. What Danger can ever come from ingenious
Reasoning & Enquiry? The worst speculative Sceptic ever I
knew, was a much better Man than the best superstitious
Devotee & Bigot. I must inform you, too, that this was the
way of thinking of the Antients on this Subject. ... I
cou'd wish that Cleanthes' Argument coud be so analys'd, as
to be render'd quite formal & regular. The Propensity of the
Mind towards it, unless that Propensity were as strong &
universal as that to believe in our Senses & Experience,
will still, I am afraid, be esteem'd a suspicious
Foundation. Tis here I wish for your Assistance. ... The
Instances I have chosen for Cleanthes are, I hope, tolerably
happy, & the Confusion in which I represent the Sceptic
seems natural. [March 10, 1751]
Three things are particularly noteworthy in the above passage.
First, from the start Hume tries to portray Cleanthes as the
"hero" or winner of the dialog. Second, Hume notes his conscious
attempt to present all sides of the dispute in their strongest
light, and thereby elevate the literary quality of the piece.
Third, Hume argues that no public harm will result from
considering Philo's skeptical arguments.
Between 1751 and 1761 Hume worked on and further circulated
his manuscript; however, at least one friend discouraged him from
publishing it, presumably for political reasons.
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