Table Of Content

Cover Page: 1 Copyright Page Page: 2 Title Page Page: 4 Contents Page: 6 Abbreviations Page: 7 Introduction Page: 8 1. From Ancient to Modern Cosmology Page: 9 2. From Aristotelian to Cartesian Intelligibility Page: 9 3. Corpuscularianism, Locke, and Newton Page: 10 4. Free Will, and the Dangers of Infidelity Page: 12 5. God’s Design, and Human Reason Page: 13 6. Inertness, Malebranche, and Berkeley Page: 14 7. The Humean Revolution Page: 15 8. Section I: The Aims of the Enquiry Page: 16 9. Sections II and III: The Origin and Association of Ideas Page: 16 10. Section IV: Hume’s Fork Page: 18 11. Sections IV and V: The Basis of Factual Reasoning Page: 18 12. Section VI: ‘Of Probability’ Page: 19 13. Section VII: ‘Of the Idea of Necessary Connexion’ Page: 20 14. Section VIII: ‘Of Liberty and Necessity’ Page: 22 15. Section IX: ‘Of the Reason of Animals’ Page: 23 16. Section X: ‘Of Miracles’ Page: 23 17. Section XI: ‘Of a Particular Providence, and of a Future State’ Page: 24 18. Section XII: ‘Of the Academical or Sceptical Philosophy’ Page: 24 Note on the Text Page: 27 Select Bibliography Page: 28 A Chronology of David Hume Page: 29 AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING Page: 30 Advertisement Page: 31 I. Of the different Species of Philosophy Page: 32 II. Of the Origin of Ideas Page: 36 III. Of the Association of Ideas Page: 38 IV. Sceptical Doubts concerning the Operations of the Understanding Page: 39 V. Sceptical Solution of these Doubts Page: 44 VI. Of Probability Page: 49 VII. Of the Idea of necessary Connexion Page: 50 VIII. Of Liberty and Necessity Page: 56 IX. Of the Reason of Animals Page: 64 X. Of Miracles Page: 65 XI. Of a particular Providence and of a future State Page: 73 XII. Of the academical or sceptical Philosophy Page: 79 Hume’s Endnotes Page: 85 Appendix I: Abstract of A Treatise of Human Nature (1740) Page: 91 Appendix II: ‘Of the Immortality of the Soul’ (printed 1755) Page: 98 Appendix III: Excerpts from Parts I and II of the Dialogues concerning Natural Religion (1779) Page: 101 Appendix IV: Excerpts from Hume’s Letters Page: 106 Appendix V: ‘My Own Life’ Page: 110 Textual Variants Page: 113 Explanatory Notes Page: 116 Glossary Page: 130 Glossarial Index of Major Philosophers and Philosophical Movements Page: 134 Hume’s Index Page: 139 Index of Major Themes, Concepts, and Examples Page: 140 Index of Names Mentioned in the Enquiry Page: 141 Index of References to Hume’s Works Page: 142 Footnotes Page: 143

Description:

'Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.' Thus ends David Hume's Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, the definitive statement of the greatest philosopher in the English language. His arguments in support of reasoning from experience, and against the 'sophistry and illusion' of religiously inspired philosophical fantasies, caused controversy in the eighteenth century and are strikingly relevant today, when faith and science continue to clash. The Enquiry considers the origin and processes of human thought, reaching the stark conclusion that we can have no ultimate understanding of the physical world, or indeed our own minds. In either sphere we must depend on instinctive learning from experience, recognizing our animal nature and the limits of reason. Hume's calm and open-minded scepticism thus aims to provide a new basis for science, liberating us from the 'superstition' of false metaphysics and religion. His Enquiry remains one of the best introductions to the study of philosophy, and this edition places it in its historical and philosophical context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.