David Humes Flashcards
David Hume life
1711 - 1776
Born and died in Scotland
He went to Edinburgh University at the age of __ to study law.
He hated law and left the university.
12
Some of his family were aristocratic. His father was a successful lawyer.
Some of his family were aristocratic. His father was a successful lawyer.
His sceptical (questioning) views of religion and the existence of God led too confrontation with the Church, which accused him of being an atheist.
His sceptical (questioning) views of religion and the existence of God led too confrontation with the Church, which accused him of being an atheist.
Hume became a banker and travelled in France.
In 1734
His atheism meant he was twice rejected as a professor at Edinburgh University and Glasgow.
His atheism meant he was twice rejected as a professor at Edinburgh University and Glasgow.
he published Essays, Moral and Political, which was much more successful.
In 1742
He became Keeper of the Advocates’ Library at Edinburgh in ____. He then began to publish six volumes of his History of England (1762), which became the source of his wealth.
1752
he published his influential An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding in which he defined what knowledge is.
In 1757
was appointed Under Secretary of State, Northern Department, which was a great honour.
In 1767
As a Secretary to Lord Hertford, the British Ambassador to Paris, he mixed with the French Philosophers, Les Philosophes.
As a Secretary to Lord Hertford, the British Ambassador to Paris, he mixed with the French Philosophers, Les Philosophes.
Hume returned to Edinburgh to live and began to revise his books on philosophy.
In 1768
The ‘new scene of thought’ had a profound effect on Hume’s philosophy and lead to his sceptical method of reasoning.
The ‘new scene of thought’ had a profound effect on Hume’s philosophy and lead to his sceptical method of reasoning.
The sceptical method involves questioning all beliefs against scientific reasoning. It means that all truth claims must be based on reason and experience. Beliefs must be tested and not held to be true simply because of what is generally accepted.
The sceptical method involves questioning all beliefs against scientific reasoning. It means that all truth claims must be based on reason and experience. Beliefs must be tested and not held to be true simply because of what is generally accepted.
At __he encountered a group of philosophers who belonged to a ‘new scene of thought’.
18
