The Empiricists: John Locke: An essay concerning human understanding, abridged by Richard Taylor. George Berkeley: A treatise concerning the principles of human knowledge. Three dialogues between Hylas and Philonous, in opposition to sceptics and atheists

Product Description This volume includes the major works of the British Empiricists, philosophers who sought to derive all knowledge from experience. All essays are complete except that of Locke, which Professor Richard Taylor of Brown University has skillfully abridged. From the Publisher This volume includes the major works of the British Empiricists, philosophers who sought to derive all knowledge from experience. All essays are complete except that of Locke, which Professor Richard Taylor of Brown University has skillfully abridged. The rise and fall of British Empiricism is probably philosophy's most dramatic example of pushing premises to their most logical and fatal conclusions. Empiricism was born in 1690 with the appearance of Locke's Essay, and it flourished as the reigning school until 1739 when Hume's Treatise strangled it with its own cinctures. What started as "common sense" dualism in Locke dwindled into the optimistic idealism of Berkeley, and then into the disintegrating skepticism of Hume. In just fifty years the men who claimed that all knowledge derives from experience, from the testimony of the senses, had shown that if this is really so we lose not only the material world, the "law" of cause and effect, and other people, but also our own selves: the "I" becomes no more than a succession of sensations. Thus, while Empiricism annihilated the "innate ideas" of Rationalism and set the stage for Immanuel Kant, to many thinkers it also meant the irrevocable end of philosophic certainty. All the essays in this volume are complete except that of Locke, for which even he advised abridgment. An Inquiry into the Understanding pleasant and useful.--Since it is the understanding that sets man above the rest of sensible beings, and gives him all the advantage and dominion which he has over them; it is certainly a subject, even for its nobleness, worth our labour to inquire into. The understanding, like the eye, whilst it makes us see and perceive all other things, takes no notice of itself; and it requires art and pains to set it at a distance and make it its own object. But whatever be the difficulties that lie in the way of this inquiry; whatever it be that keeps us so much in the dark to ourselves; sure I am that all the light we can let in upon our minds, all the acquaintance we can make with our own understandings, will not only be very pleasant, but bring us great advantage, in directing our thoughts in the search of other things The rise and fall of British Empiricism is philosophy's most dramatic example of pushing premises to their logical--and fatal--conclusions. Born in 1690 with the appearance of Locke's Essay, Empiricism flourished as the reigning school until 1739 when Hume's Treatise strangled it with its own cinctures after a period of Berkeley's optimistic idealism. The Empiricists collects the key writings on this important philosophy, perfect for those interested in learning about this movement with just one book. An essay concerning human understanding / John Locke ; abridged by Richard Taylor A treatise concerning the principles of human knowledge ; Three dialogues between hylas and philonous, in opposition to sceptics and atheists / George Berkeley An enquiry concerning human understanding ; Dialogues concerning natural religion / David Hume. Locke, J. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (abridged).--berkeley, G. A Treatise Concerning The Principles Of Human Knowledge ; Three Dialogues Between Hylas And Philonous, In Opposition To Sceptics And Atheists.--hume, D. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding ; Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion.