Theory And Practice In The Philosophy Of David Hume (asan-palgrave Macmillan Series)

An original interpretation of Hume's philosophy as centered on the relationship between theory and practice. The author argues that Hume's Essays and History represent a humanist practical philosophy derived from the speculative philosophy of A Treatise of Human Nature and the Enquiries. The author argues that the relationship between theory and practice was central to Hume, that he developed two theories of theory and practice (one in the Treatise of Human Nature, which separates theory and practice, another in the Enquiries, which links them), that the secular speculative philosophy of human nature in the Treatise leads to the humanist practical philosophy of Hume's Essays, Moral, Political and Literary and History of England, and that the foundations of Hume's political theory are history and political realism rather than custom and tradition. Although Hume is usually considered a skeptic and the originator of the 'is/ought' distinction, he genuinely believed that 'the life of virtue' is happiest and that this conclusion derived equally from philosophy and common sense. The author argues for the continuing relevance of Hume's views on human nature, common sense, practical philosophy, ethics and humanism Front Matter....Pages i-vi Hume and the Problem of Theory and Practice in Philosophy and Political Theory....Pages 1-26 Hume’s Naturalism and Skepticism in the Treatise and His Appeal from Theory to Practice....Pages 27-61 The Systematic Theory of Theory of the Treatise of Human Nature ....Pages 62-80 The Behaviorist Theory of Practice of the Treatise ....Pages 81-109 The Practical Philosophies of Skepticism and Commercial Humanism....Pages 110-164 The Common Sense Theory of Theory in the Enquiries, Essays and History of England ....Pages 165-202 The Common Sense Theory of Practice of the Later Works....Pages 203-225 Hume, Theory and Practice Today....Pages 226-256 Back Matter....Pages 257-328