Understanding Hume

This is the first clear and non-technical introduction to philosophy through the works of the 18th century philosopher, David Hume. It covers every major philosophical issue commented upon by Hume, from epistemology, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics, to ethics and political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Looking first at Hume's discussion of each topic and clarifying his thoughts in jargon-free language, the book then relates his ideas to current contemporary thought. Readers are taken gently through both 18th century and contemporary philosophies and given lucid accounts of the key issues in each. Contents: Introduction; Where Does Thought Begin?; How Does Thought Proceed?; What Do We Mean by Cause and How Do We Reason from Experience?; What Do We Mean by Cause? II; Is It Rational to Be Guided by Experience?; What Is It to Believe that Something Is the Case?; Are Our Choices Free?; What Constitutes the Identity of a Person?; How Do Emotions Work?; The Mechanism of Sympathy; How to Make Moral Judgements; Is Religious Belief Rational? David Hume was one of the most signincant thinkers of the eighteenth century and his philosophical writings encompass the major themes of his subject: epistemology, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy and the philosophy of religion. In Understanding Hume the standard problems posed by these topics are introduced and explored in the context of eighteenth-century thought and as they relate to contemporary philosophy. The discussion is not over-complicated by arcane minutiae or narrowly-focussed exegesis. Instead, written in jargon-free language, this is an ideal introduction not only to the often difficult writings of David Hume, but also to the main areas of modern philosophical debate By John J. Jenkins ; Edited By Peter Lewis And Geoffrey Madell. Bibliography: P. 205-210. -includes Index.