The Riddle of Hume's Treatise: Skepticism, Naturalism, and IrreligionAlthough it is widely recognized that David Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature (1729-40) belongs among the greatest works of philosophy, there is little aggreement about the correct way to interpret his fundamental intentions.The solution to this riddle depends on challenging another, closely related, point of orthodoxy: namely, that before Hume published the Treatise he removed almost all material concerned with problems of religion. Russell argues, contrary to this view, that irreligious aims and objectives are fundamental to the Treatise and account for its underlying unity and coherence. It is Hume's basic anti-Christian aims and objectives that serve to shape and direct both his skeptical and naturalistic commitments. When Hume's arguments are viewed from this perspective we can solve, not only puzzles arising from his discussion of various specific issues, we can also explain the intimate and intricate connections that hold his entire project together.This "irreligious" interpretation provides a comprehensive fresh account of the nature of Hume's fundamental aims and ambitions in the Treatise. It also presents a radically different picture of the way in which Hume's project was rooted in the debates and controversies of his own time, placing the Treatise in an irreligious or anti-Christian philosophical tradition that includes Hobbes, Spinoza and freethinking followers. Considered in these terms, Hume's Treatise constitutes the crowning achievement of the Radical Enlightenment. |
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Other editions - View all
The Riddle of Hume's Treatise: Skepticism, Naturalism, and Irreligion Paul Russell Limited preview - 2008 |
The Riddle of Hume's Treatise: Skepticism, Naturalism, and Irreligion Paul Russell Limited preview - 2008 |
The Riddle of Hume's Treatise: Skepticism, Naturalism, and Irreligion Paul Russell Limited preview - 2008 |
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Analogy argues argument a priori atheism attributes Baxter Bayle belief Berkeley Berkeley's Boyle Lectures Butler causal cause chap chapter Christian claims Clarke Clarke's Collins commitments concerning contemporaries context cosmological argument criticism Cudworth David Hume debate defenders deism deist Demonstration deny Descartes Dialogues discredit distinct divine doctrine Dudgeon Enquiry Essay evidence existence Fogelin follows freethinkers fundamental God's Hobbes Hobbes's Hobbist Human Nature Human Soul human understanding Hume’s Hume's philosophy Hume's skeptical Hume's Treatise Hume's views Hutcheson idea immaterial important infinite infinite divisibility intentions irreligion irreligious interpretation issue Kames Kemp Smith Leibniz Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence Leviathan liberty Locke Malebranche material world matter metaphysical mind moral theory Mossner natural religion necessitarianism necessity Newtonian noted observations presented principles Pyrrhonism reason refute Reid relation relevant religious Samuel Clarke says Scottish sense Shaftesbury significance skeptical arguments space specific Spinoza substance suggests theological things thinkers thought tion Toland Universe Wishart