COMMENT:A work on epistemology, first published in 1748, which lays much of the philosophical groundwork for modern skeptics. Hume's goal here is "an attempt to introduce the experimental method of reasoning into moral subjects." A central arguments is that earlier philosophers have been overoptimistic about the power of pure reason to understand the world. He points out that our ability to reason is hampered by the limits of our experience and biased by nonrational factors, such as emotion and custom. Of particular interest is the chapter "Of Miracles," where he attempts to lay down some practical rules for the evaluation of extraordinary claims (though some minor arguments indulge in question-begging).
DATE:19980924
KEYWORDS:skepticism:philosophy
MISC:417p.
PUBLISHER:Oxford
SUBMITADDR:simond@polaris.ncs.nova.edu
SUBMITNAME:David Simon
TITLE:Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding And Concerning The Principles Of Morals
