Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: And Other Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy)

The main objective of Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy is to expand the range, variety and quality of texts in the history of philosophy which are available in English. The series includes texts by familiar names (such as Descartes and Kant) and also by less well-known authors. Wherever possible, texts are published in complete and unabridged form, and translations are specially commissioned for the series. Each volume contains a critical introduction together with a guide to further reading and any necessary glossaries and textual apparatus. The volumes are designed for student use at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and will be of interest not only to students of philosophy but also to a wider audience of readers in the history of science, the history of theology, and the history of ideas. 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 annotations 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. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Introduction......Page 11 Part 2......Page 13 Hume's '45......Page 17 Hume's own later account......Page 23 From the Treatise to the Enquiry: the excision of psychological detail......Page 24 From the Treatise to the Enquiry: the religious critique......Page 26 Experimentalism, Newtonianism, naturalism – and Scepticism......Page 27 The unity of the Enquiry......Page 29 Other writings......Page 32 Chronology......Page 34 Further reading......Page 37 Note on the text......Page 41 An enquiry concerning human understanding......Page 45 Advertisement......Page 46 1 Of the different species of philosophy......Page 47 2 Of the origin of ideas......Page 58 3 Of the association of ideas......Page 63 Part 1......Page 72 Part 2......Page 78 Part 1......Page 85 6 Of probability......Page 98 Part 1......Page 101 Part 2......Page 112 Part 1......Page 117 Part 2......Page 130 9 Of the reason of animals......Page 136 Part 1......Page 140 Part 2......Page 146 11 Of a particular providence and of a future state......Page 161 Part 1......Page 175 Part 2......Page 180 Part 3......Page 184 Other writings......Page 189 A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend in Edinburgh......Page 191 Specimen of the Principles concerning Religion and Morality, etc.......Page 192 Sum of the Charge......Page 198 The Sceptic......Page 207 Of Suicide......Page 225 Of the Immortality of the Soul......Page 234 Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans (1561–1626)......Page 242 William Harvey (1578–1657)......Page 243 The Royal Society (established by royal charter 1662)......Page 244 Robert Boyle (1627–91)......Page 245 Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727)......Page 246 To Michael Ramsay......Page 247 To Henry Home......Page 248 To Francis Hutcheson......Page 249 To Gilbert Elliot of Minto......Page 251 Excerpt from John Stewart, Some Remarks on the Laws of Motion, and the Inertia of Matter, in Essays and Observations (Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, 1754)......Page 252 Hume's reply......Page 253 To the Reverend George Campbell (1719–96), Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen......Page 255 To William Strahan......Page 257 My Own Life......Page 259 Index......Page 267 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgements 9 Introduction 11 Hume's early career 13 Hume's '45 17 Hume's own later account 23 From the Treatise to the Enquiry: the excision of psychological detail 24 From the Treatise to the Enquiry: the religious critique 26 Experimentalism, Newtonianism, naturalism – and Scepticism 27 The unity of the Enquiry 29 Other writings 32 Chronology 34 Further reading 37 Note on the text 41 An enquiry concerning human understanding 45 Advertisement 46 1 Of the different species of philosophy 47 2 Of the origin of ideas 58 3 Of the association of ideas 63 4 Sceptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding 72 Part 1 72 Part 2 78 5 Sceptical solution of these doubts 85 Part 1 85 Part 2 13 6 Of probability 98 7 Of the idea of necessary connexion 101 Part 1 101 Part 2 112 8 Of liberty and necessity 117 Part 1 117 Part 2 130 9 Of the reason of animals 136 10 Of miracles 140 Part 1 140 Part 2 146 11 Of a particular providence and of a future state 161 12 Of the academical or sceptical philosophy 175 Part 1 175 Part 2 180 Part 3 184 Other writings 189 A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend in Edinburgh 191 Specimen of the Principles concerning Religion and Morality, etc. 192 Sum of the Charge 198 The Sceptic 207 Of Suicide 225 Of the Immortality of the Soul 234 Thumbnail biographies from The History of England 242 Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans (1561–1626) 242 Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) 243 William Harvey (1578–1657) 243 The Royal Society (established by royal charter 1662) 244 Robert Boyle (1627–91) 245 Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) 246 Selections from Hume's letters 247 To Michael Ramsay 247 To Henry Home 248 To Francis Hutcheson 249 To Gilbert Elliot of Minto 251 Exchange with John Stewart, Professor of Natural Philosophy in Edinburgh 252 Excerpt from John Stewart, Some Remarks on the Laws of Motion, and the Inertia of Matter, in Essays and Observations (Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, 1754) 252 Hume's reply 253 To the Reverend George Campbell (1719–96), Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen 255 To William Strahan 257 My Own Life 259 Index 267 "This volume, which presents a modified version of the definitive 1772 edition of the work, offers helpful annotations 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."--Jacket