HumeWhat is philosophy about? According to the author of this work (published in the first series of 'English Men of Letters' in 1879) it is fundamentally the answer to the question: 'What can I know?' T. H. Huxley (1825-95), the distinguished English scientist and disciple of Darwin, succeeds in giving a clear and succinct account of the way in which Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711-56) answered this question. The book is divided into two parts: in the first, Huxley provides the reader with a sketch of Hume's life, but the main emphasis of the book is in Part 2, where by expounding Hume's views on the object of philosophy, consciousness, theology, language and free will, Huxley guides the reader towards an understanding of how Hume's philosophical principles can be regarded as a search for the ultimate element out of which all valid knowledge may be shown to emerge. |
Contents
HUMES LIFE | 1 |
CHAPTER II | 26 |
HUMES PHILOSOPHY | 48 |
CHAPTER II | 61 |
CHAPTER III | 74 |
THE CLASSIFICATION AND THE NOMENCLATURE OF MENTAL | 89 |
CHAPTER V | 103 |
CHAPTER VI | 114 |
CHAPTER VII | 129 |
CHAPTER VIII | 140 |
CHAPTER IX | 165 |
CHAPTER X | 183 |
CHAPTER XI | 197 |
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Common terms and phrases
absolute monarchy acquainted actions admit affirm animal appear argument arise ascribe associated attributes body causation cause and effect centaur co-existence complex idea conceive concerning conclusion connexion consciousness constant conjunction contrary David Hume Deity Descartes doctrine doubt endeavour English essay event evidence evil existence experience fact faculty Faculty of Advocates feeling give happiness Henry Home human Hume says Hume's identity imagination impossible impressions inference innate innate ideas Inquiry instinct intelligent invisible agent John Hill Burton justice kind knowledge letters mankind manner matter means memory mental mind miracle moral motion necessary truth necessity never noumenon object observation operations opinion pain particular passions perceptions person phenomena philo philosopher pleasure polytheism present principles proposition prove qualities question reason regard relation relations of ideas religion seems sensation sense sophism soul Spinoza substance succession suppose theism theology things thought tion Treatise universe volition words