This study of David Hume suggests that the unity of his thought Is to be found more In an attitude of mind than In a precise body of epistemological statements. His 'mitigated scepticism' was the original combination of an experimental approach with a searching mind and a rather disenchanted attitude towards the attainment of perfection In knowledge and In the practical world. But my thesis addresses these questions only Implicitly. The general picture of the Humean approach to things political and phi losophlcal Is depicted against the background of a close examination of two other themes: Hume's development towards a more 'popular' phi losophy and the phi losophlcal Import of his moral and political theory. The first subject Is studied through an analysis of the formal qualities of Hume's phi losophlcal writings; the second, through a discussion of Hume's position on the origin of Justice and government and one's obi Igatlon to them. The conclusion that my thesis tentatively advances Is that both In metaphysics and politics Hume's approach Is based upon the attainment of a state of equl IIbrlum between theoretical and practical considerations, and between sceptical and naturalistic tendencies. Hume's desire for balance can only be understood within the Intellectual context of eighteenth century thought. This Is the reason for the considerable attention that the thesis devotes to the reconstruction of the historical setting within which Hume's thought developed. However, when correctly Interpreted, Hume's Ideas clearly have a contribution to make to an understanding of a world which Is very different from his own.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:382506 |
| Date | January 1986 |
| Creators | Castiglione, Dario |
| Publisher | University of Sussex |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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