 The first principle was a common supposition in Bayle’s day, and so obviously caused no controversy. Nevertheless, Bayle argued on behalf of the principle in “Manichéens,” remark D, in passages that render more precise the nature of Bayle’s skepticism about theodicy. Bayle imagines a monotheist philosopher, Melissus, arguing with a dualist philosopher, Zoroaster, over the origin of evil. The dispute begins with a contest over a priori arguments. In other words, the first question raised is whether one principle of creation or two is most in accord with ideas of pure reason. Melissus wins this particular debate, in Bayle’s view, because it is more agreeable to a priori reason to suppose that there is just one necessary and infinitely perfect being responsible for the creation of the universe than to suppose that there are two warring gods, one good and the other evil (which is the view of Bayle’s fictionalized Zoroaster). Melissus’ monotheism is, in short, simpler and more elegant than Zoroaster’s dualism.