Holden, Thomas

Thomas Holden is a contemporary philosopher specializing in early modern philosophy and the philosophy of religion, with particular expertise on David Hume's religious thought. He has made significant contributions to understanding Hume's critique of religion and his position on atheism. In "Spectres of False Divinity," Holden examines Hume's analysis of religious belief and the psychological mechanisms underlying false conceptions of divinity. His work "Hume's Moral Atheism" presents a provocative interpretation of Hume as not merely skeptical about religion but as advancing a form of moral atheism that views religious belief as ethically problematic. Holden's scholarship has been influential in clarifying the depth and sophistication of Hume's irreligious philosophy, challenging readings that portray Hume as merely agnostic or cautiously skeptical. His work demonstrates how Hume's critique extends beyond epistemological concerns to encompass moral objections to theistic belief systems.