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. |
From inside the book
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Page vii
... context of the main debate between “religious philosophers” and “speculative atheists.” While Clarke and Hobbes feature prominently on each side of this divide they are far from being the only important figures that Hume is concerned ...
... context of the main debate between “religious philosophers” and “speculative atheists.” While Clarke and Hobbes feature prominently on each side of this divide they are far from being the only important figures that Hume is concerned ...
Page x
... context of the battle between “religious philosophers” and “speculative atheists”—with Hume coming down decisively on the side of the latter. From this perspective, A Treatise of Human Nature must be judged as one the great works of the ...
... context of the battle between “religious philosophers” and “speculative atheists”—with Hume coming down decisively on the side of the latter. From this perspective, A Treatise of Human Nature must be judged as one the great works of the ...
Page xv
... CONTEXT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Riddle 3 “Atheism” and Hume's Early Critics 12 Religious Philosophers and Speculative Atheists 25 Newtonianism, Freethought, and Hume's Scottish Context 35 The Monster of Atheism: Its Being and Attributes 47 ...
... CONTEXT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Riddle 3 “Atheism” and Hume's Early Critics 12 Religious Philosophers and Speculative Atheists 25 Newtonianism, Freethought, and Hume's Scottish Context 35 The Monster of Atheism: Its Being and Attributes 47 ...
Page xviii
... by L. A. Selby-Bigge, 2nd rev. ed. P. H. Nidditch (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978). An Abstract of A Treatise of Human Nature, reprinted in T. RIDDLES, CRITICS, AND MONSTERS: TEXT AND CONTEXT It must be xviii Abbreviations.
... by L. A. Selby-Bigge, 2nd rev. ed. P. H. Nidditch (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978). An Abstract of A Treatise of Human Nature, reprinted in T. RIDDLES, CRITICS, AND MONSTERS: TEXT AND CONTEXT It must be xviii Abbreviations.
Page 1
... CONTEXT It must be extreme hard to find out the opinions and meanings of those men that are gone from us long ago, and have left us no other signification thereof but their books. Hobbes, The Elements of Law A lack of historical sense ...
... CONTEXT It must be extreme hard to find out the opinions and meanings of those men that are gone from us long ago, and have left us no other signification thereof but their books. Hobbes, The Elements of Law A lack of historical sense ...
Contents
1 | |
II THE FORM AND FACE OF HUMES SYSTEM | 59 |
III THE NATURE OF HUMES UNIVERSE | 81 |
IV THE ELEMENTS OF VIRTUOUS ATHEISM | 223 |
V HUMES PHILOSOPHY OF IRRELIGION | 265 |
Catos Speech at the Oracle of Ammon | 301 |
Notes | 304 |
Bibliography | 390 |
Index | 409 |
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 - 2010 |
The Riddle of Hume's Treatise: Skepticism, Naturalism, and Irreligion Paul Russell Limited preview - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
Analogy argues argument a priori atheism attributes Baxter Bayle Bayle’s 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 doctrine Dudgeon Enquiry Essay evidence existence Fogelin follows freethinkers fundamental God’s Hobbes Hobbes’s Hobbist Human Nature Human Soul human understanding Hume’s account Hume’s discussion Hume’s intentions Hume’s philosophy Hume’s project Hume’s remarks Hume’s skeptical Hume’s Treatise Hume’s views Hutcheson idea immaterial important infinite infinite divisibility irreligion irreligious interpretation issue Kames Kemp Smith Leibniz Leviathan liberty Locke Locke’s Malebranche material world matter metaphysical mind Mossner natural religion necessitarianism necessity Newton Newtonian noted observations presented principles Pyrrhonism reason relation relevant religious Samuel Clarke says Scottish sense Shaftesbury significance skeptical arguments space specific Spinoza substance suggests theological things thinkers tion Toland Wishart