Hume - Life and The Design Argument Objections Flashcards
When was he born?
1711
Where was he born?
Scotland
Into what family was he born?
An aristocratic one.
What was his fathers occupation?
Lawyer
When did his father die?
When Hume was two.
When did he go to Edinburgh university?
Age 12
What did he study at university?
Law
Why did he leave university?
Because he hated law.
What did he do at 18?
He found some philosophers influenced by Isaac Newton. They wanted all knowledge, including religion. This was the ‘New Scene of Thought’.
What did Hume’s views on God mean?
The church branded him an atheist. This meant he couldn’t become a professor at Edinburgh and Glasgow university.
When did Hume travel to France?
1734
Who did Hume travel to France as?
A banker.
Who did he meet in France?
‘Les Philosophes’ - French philosophers.
What was his first text and when was it published?
‘A Treatise on Human Nature’ - 1739
Was his first text a success?
No
What was his second text and when was it published?
‘Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary’ - 1742
Was his second text a success?
Much more than the first one.
What were his most popular texts?
His ‘History of England’ volumes.
What was his occupation when he was writing his most successful volumes?
Keeper of the Advocates Library in Edinburgh.
When did he return to Edinburgh?
1768
When did he die?
1776
What led to Hume’s sceptical method of reasoning?
The ‘New Scene of Thought’.
What was his method of reasoning?
It involved checking everything against scientific reasoning.
