David Hume — Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Part IX (Cleanthes)

“In such a chain, too, or succession of objects, each part is caused by that which preceded it, and causes that which succeeds it. Where then is the difficulty? But the whole, you say, wants a cause. I answer, that the uniting of these parts into a whole, like the uniting of several distinct countries into one kingdom, or several distinct members into one body, is performed merely by an arbitrary act of the mind, and has no influence on the nature of things.”

Checked word-for-word against Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion · 2026-07-18

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