Philosophy Book
Chapter Twenty One: David Hume
Brief Biography of David Hume: Summary of Ideas, Portrait & Quotes
This webpage contains a brief overview of the recently published
book 'Philosophical Sketches'. Below you will find a short Chapter summary
on David Hume, the book cover and back page text, links to other book chapters,
and introduction. You can buy this book online at our Cafepress Philosophy
Book Shop (Book Details: 90 pages, 30 full page portraits, 8.5 inches by
11 inches, $19.50 USD)
Hope you find it interesting,
Geoff Haselhurst & Karene Jade Howie
Chapter
Twenty One: David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher and historian and, with
Adam Smith and Thomas Reid among others, one of the most important figures
in the Scottish Enlightenment. He was born in Berwickshire, Scotland near Edinburgh
and attended Edinburgh University. At first he considered a career in law,
but came to have, in his words, "an insurmountable aversion to everything
but the pursuits of philosophy and general learning." He did some self-study
in France, where he also completed A Treatise of Human Nature at the age of
twenty-six. Although many scholars today consider the Treatise to be Hume's
most important work and one of the most important books in the history of philosophy,
the public in Britain did not at first agree. Hume himself described the (lack
of) public reaction to the publication of the Treatise in 1739–40 by
writing that the book "fell dead-born from the press." Hume did achieve
literary fame as an essayist and historian. Attention to his works grew after
the German philosopher Immanuel Kant credited Hume with awakening him from "dogmatic
slumber" (circa 1770) ... (see book for more)
And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the
genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse
itself throughout the whole society, and bestow a similar correctness on every
art and calling.
When we look about us towards external objects, and consider
the operation of causes, we are never able, in a single instance, to discover
any power or
necessary connexion; any quality, which binds the effect to the cause, and
renders the one an infallible consequence of the other. There is required
a medium, which may enable the mind to draw such an inference, if indeed it
be
drawn by reasoning and argument. What that medium is, I must confess, passes
my comprehension; and it is incumbent on those to produce it, who assert
that it really exists, and is the origin of all our conclusions concerning
matter
of fact. This question I propose as much for the sake of information, as
with an intention of raising difficulties. I cannot find, I cannot imagine
any such
reasoning. But I keep my mind still open to instruction, if any one will
vouchsafe to bestow it upon me. (David Hume, 1737)
A lively and concise journey through the central
ideas of thirty famous philosophers. From ancient Indian, Greek and Chinese
Philosophy to modern Western Philosophy, this book explores the changing foundations
of human knowledge and their effect on how we think and live.
Includes full page portraits, brief biographies and selected quotes from some
of the greatest minds of human history on the universal subjects of Truth,
Reality, Nature, Cosmos, Wisdom, Morality, Mind, Education, Politics, Art,
Religion & God.
Written for the lay person, while remaining true to the original ideas, this
is an engaging account of the Metaphysical foundations of Philosophy that is
both illuminating and thought provoking. (Cover Photograph: Plato & Aristotle
- The School of Athens by Raphael)
Philosophy Book
Philosophical Sketches: Chapter Headings & Content Summary
Publisher / Online Bookstore Details
Space
and Motion Publications
Online print on demand publishers of books on;
Philosophy, Physics, Metaphysics, Truth, Reality, Evolution, Ecology, Nature,
Education, Politics, Fine Art, Erotic Art, Nature, Cosmos, Wisdom, Morality,
Mind, Religion & God.
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/books/online-book-publishing.htm
Related Pages: David Hume
We also have a nice philosophy web page on David Hume;
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-David-Hume-Philosopher.htm
RSS
"When
forced to summarize the general theory of relativity in one sentence: Time
and space and gravitation have no separate existence from matter. ... Physical
objects are not in space, but these objects are spatially extended.
In this way the concept 'empty space' loses its meaning. ... The particle
can only appear as a limited region in space in which the field strength or
the energy density are particularly high. ...
