Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: And Other WritingsStephen Buckle David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, first published in 1748, is a concise statement of Hume's central philosophical positions. It develops an account of human mental functioning which emphasizes the limits of human knowledge and the extent of our reliance on (non-rational) mental habits. It then applies that account to questions of free will and religious knowledge before closing with a defence of moderate scepticism. This volume, which presents a modified version of the definitive 1772 edition of the work, offers helpful annotation for the student reader, together with an introduction that sets this profoundly influential work in its philosophical and historical contexts. The volume also includes a selection of other works by Hume that throw light on both the circumstances of the work's genesis and its key themes and arguments. |
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actions allowed analogy animal appear argument arise Aristotle atheism believe body cause and effect character Cicero circumstances common conclusion conjoined connexion consequences consider contrary course of nature DAVID HUME degree Deity derived Descartes discover dispute divine doctrine employed endeavour enquiry entirely epic poetry Epicurean Epicurus evidence examine existence experience external objects farther feel force Francis Hutcheson give Henry Home human nature Hume Hume's idea of power imagination immediately impossible infer influence instance Jansenist kind laws learning Lucretius Malebranche mankind manner matter of fact means ments mind miracle moral motion Natural Philosophy necessity never observation operations opinion particular passion perceptions philosophers Plutarch present pretend principles produce proof proposition prove Pyrrhonism reasonings concerning reflection regard relation religion render resemblance Rorarius scepticism seems senses sensible qualities sentiment Sextus Empiricus species supposed supposition Tacitus thing thought tion Treatise truth universe virtue whole