Lecture Notes on David Hume

Introduction to David Hume

• 18th century writer and philosopher.
• Key insight: Humans are more influenced by feelings than by reason.
• Hume's perspective is seen as both insightful and potentially insulting to self-image.
• He believed accepting this fact could lead to a calmer, happier life.

Early Life

• Born in Edinburgh in 1711 to a well-established, yet poor family.
• Second son, expected to find a job eventually.
• Tried law but found it unappealing, considering it laborious and drudgerous.
• Pursued academic posts at University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow but was unsuccessful.
• Decided to become a public intellectual, selling books to the general public.

Career and Writing Journey

• First book: A Treatise of Human Nature met with dismal reception.
  • Hume described it as "dead-born from the press."
• Continued to refine his writing style to become more accessible and popular.
• Later works included popular history and elegant essays which became best-sellers.
  • Experienced financial independence through writing.

Central Philosophy

• Philosophy revolves around the priority of feeling over rationality.
  • Common belief is that reason should dominate our decision-making.
  • Hume argued that reason is "the slave of passion."
• Major life decisions (who to love, career choices, etc.) are driven more by feelings than rational analysis.
• Hume lived during the Age of Reason, yet viewed humans as another type of animal.
• Observed that reasoning often follows emotional responses rather than leading them.

Education of Passions

• Not all feelings are acceptable; Hume believed in the education of passions.
• Advocated for a system that promotes benevolence, patience, and self-acceptance.
• Emphasized the role of public intellectuals in shaping ideas and emotions over rational arguments.
• Suggested changing beliefs through sympathy, good example, and encouragement.

Views on Religion

• Hume was skeptical of rational arguments for the existence of God.
  • Identified between agnosticism and mild theism.
• Considered belief in a vindictive God as a cruel superstition.
• Argued that religious beliefs are not products of reason; thus, rational arguments on the subject may be futile.
• Advocated for religious toleration and understanding emotional motivations behind beliefs.

Skepticism of Personal Identity

• Hume doubted the concept of a consistent "Core Self."
  • Suggested that self is a bundle of perceptions rather than a defined identity.
• Acknowledged common-sense beliefs as necessary for navigating life.
• Critiqued Descartes’ rationalism, proposing that most beliefs are justified by their utility rather than provable truth.

Ethics and Morality

• Proposed that morality stems from emotional training rather than intellectual reasoning.
• Advocated for qualities such as wit, good manners, and sympathy as vital for human interaction.
• Emphasized the importance of influencing emotions for better behavior in society.

Hume's Personal Approach

• Hume sought to understand what constitutes a good life.
• Engaged with the world, advising the British ambassador in Paris.
• Known for his social skills, wit, and enjoyment of dining and conversation.
• Lived life embedded in society rather than in isolation.

Conclusion

• Died in Edinburgh in 1776.
• Hume remains a significant philosopher known for integrating common sense with philosophical inquiry.