The Continuum Companion to Hume (Bloomsbury Companions)

David Hume (1711-1776), philosopher, historian, and essayist, is widely considered to be Britain's greatest philosopher. One of the leading intellectual figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, his major works and central ideas, especially his radical empiricism and his critique of the pretensions of philosophical rationalism, remain hugely influential on contemporary philosophers. This comprehensive and accessible guide to Hume's life and work includes 21 specially commissioned essays, written by a team of leading experts, covering every aspect of Hume's thought. The Companion presents details of Hume's life, historical and philosophical context, a comprehensive overview of all the key themes and topics apparent in his work, including his accounts of causal reasoning, scepticism, the soul and the self, action, reason, free will, miracles, natural religion, politics, human nature, women, economics and history, and an account of his reception and enduring influence. This is an essential reference tool for anyone working in the fields of Hume Studies and Eighteenth-Century Philosophy. Cover 1 Half-title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 CONTENTS 6 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 8 ABBREVIATIONS FOR WORKS WRITTEN BY HUME 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 12 DAVID HUME – A TIMELINE 14 INTRODUCTION 20 1 HUME’S LIFE, INTELLECTUAL CONTEXT AND RECEPTION 39 2 HUME’S EMPIRICIST INNER EPISTEMOLOGY: A REASSESSMENT OF THE COPY PRINCIPLE 57 3 HUME’S ‘SCEPTICISM’ ABOUT INDUCTION 76 4 THE PSYCHOLOGY AND EPISTEMOLOGY OF HUME’S ACCOUNT OF PROBABLE REASONING 123 5 CAUSATION AND NECESSARY CONNECTION 150 6 HUME ON SCEPTICISM AND THE MORAL SCIENCES 165 7 THE SELF AND PERSONAL IDENTITY 186 8 ‘ALL MY HOPES VANISH’: HUME ON THE MIND 200 9 ACTION, REASON AND THE PASSIONS 218 10 FREE WILL 233 12 DAVID HUME AND THE ARGUMENT TO DESIGN 264 13 PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF 284 14 HUME’S SENTIMENTALIST ACCOUNT OF MORAL JUDGEMENT 298 15 HUME AND THE VIRTUES 307 16 HUME’S HUMAN NATURE 322 17 HUME AND FEMINISM 338 18 HUME ON ECONOMIC WELL-BEING 351 19 ‘OF THE STANDARD OF TASTE’: DECISIONS, RULES AND CRITICAL ARGUMENT 368 20 HUME ON HISTORY 383 21 HUME’S LEGACY AND THE IDEA OF BRITISH EMPIRICISM 396 BIBLIOGRAPHY 415 INDEX OF NAMES 456 INDEX OF TOPICS 460