David Hume Criticism
David Hume (1711-1776) was a prominent Scottish philosopher, essayist, historian, critic, and autobiographer, revered for his profound influence on modern philosophy. Advocating a "mitigated" philosophical skepticism, Hume argued that all empirical knowledge is inherently uncertain. His exploration of causation, perception, and the nature of human understanding in works such as A Treatise of Human Nature and Essays, Moral and Political solidified his reputation. Despite initial criticisms of The Treatise, Hume's subsequent writings, as noted in The Treatise and The Essays, Moral and Political, showcased a refined journalistic style and garnered critical acclaim.
Hume's philosophical inquiries extended into areas of morality, politics, and religion, where he often challenged established doctrines. His Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion questioned theological arguments, as discussed by Philosophy as Literature: The Case of Hume's Dialogues and Religion and ‘Natural Belief’ in Hume's Dialogues, illustrating Hume's complex views on faith and reason.
Biographically, Hume's intellectual journey began in Berwickshire and flourished through his ties with luminaries like Adam Smith and Montesquieu. His History of England remains a contentious yet integral part of his oeuvre, critiqued for its biases by Women, Religion, and Zeal: Hume's Rhetoric in the History of England. Despite mixed receptions, Hume was celebrated by contemporaries such as Rousseau and Kant for his logical rigor and skepticism, as well as his philosophical method, explored in The Treatise of Human Nature and Hume's Philosophy as a Whole.
Hume's legacy, as observed by Pen in Hand, lies in his eloquent articulation of human cognition and his enduring impact on philosophical discourse. He is remembered as a pioneering skeptic whose work continues to provoke and inspire scholars, affirming Isaiah Berlin's assertion of his profound influence on philosophical thought.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Pen in Hand
(summary)
In the following essay, Christensen discusses how Hume characterizes his writing in the autobiographical “My Own Life,” focusing on Hume's use of illness metaphors to explore the writing process.
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The Treatise and The Essays, Moral and Political
(summary)
In the following two chapters from The Suasive Art of David Hume, Box describes Hume's stylistic development from the Treatise to the Essays. According to Box, the “journalistic character” of the latter work represents a marked improvement over the tendency of the former toward “formal treatise.”
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Philosophy as Literature: The Case of Hume's Dialogues
(summary)
In this essay, Wadia attempts to correct traditional criticisms of the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by viewing its theological doctrines against the backdrop of its dialogue form.
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Women, Religion, and Zeal: Hume's Rhetoric in the History of England
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In the essay that follows, Kennelly criticizes Hume's History of England, which she believes is “sadly lacking in gender sensitivity and respect for religion and zealous believers (in any cause).”
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Philosophy and Christendom
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In the first chapter below, Livingston explores Hume's attitudes toward religion and philosophy. In the second, he examines Hume's support of the American Revolution and his criticism of British imperial policy.
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Religious Eloquence: Hume on the Passions That Unite Us
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In this essay, Potkay explores Hume's ambivalence toward rhetoric and evaluates his attempt “to preserve the coalescent power of eloquence in the very act of dissolving the bonds of religion.”
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Religion and ‘Natural Belief’ in Hume's Dialogues
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In the following essay, Reich evaluates previous critical approaches to the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion in an effort to decipher Hume's philosophical position on the ontological arguments in the book. Specifically, Reich focuses on whether Hume considers belief in a supreme being to be a “natural belief,” and discusses how this affects the claims of the Dialogues.
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The Treatise of Human Nature and Hume's Philosophy as a Whole
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In this essay, White outlines the structure and purpose of the Treatise, claiming that the work contains the philosophical approach and positions that characterize Hume's entire oeuvre.
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Pen in Hand
(summary)
- Further Reading