Introduction to Hume: The Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding and the Principles of Morality

This class will take up the groundbreaking work of David Hume, specifically looking at the groundbreaking theories of understanding and morality that catalyzed Kant's career as an attempt to prove Hume wrong. Hume's take on the nature of thinking breaks radical new ground at the time, rejecting many traditional core concepts as imaginary and fictional, including both causality and freedom. A remarkably cogent writer, Hume's thinking, in its core ideas, the arguments used to support them, and the ramifications of those ideas, remains critically important and is always interesting to wrestle with. We will undertake a careful reading of his short works (both of which condense longer ones), An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding and An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, using the Hackett editions. (Given that translation is not an issue, other editions are acceptable). Please read sections 1-4 for of Human Understanding for the first class.

Course Outline

Course Syllabus

Notes

Online registration closes June 4 at 5 pm CT.

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