Podcast Episode Details

David Hume: The Great Sceptic and the Science of Man

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Episode 1161

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Join us for a deep dive into the life and mind of David Hume (1711–1776), the central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment and one of the most important philosophers to write in English. In this episode, we explore how Hume transitioned from a young man suffering from the "Disease of the Learned" to becoming a literary celebrity and the "dominant interpreter of English history" for his age.

We unpack Hume’s revolutionary attempt to create a naturalistic "science of man" based solely on experience rather than innate ideas. Listen in as we break down his most famous—and controversial—philosophical arguments, including:

• The Problem of Induction: Why our belief that the future will resemble the past cannot be justified by reason, but is merely a result of custom and mental habit.
• The Bundle Theory of Self: Hume’s startling claim that human beings have no actual conception of a "self," but are merely a "bundle of perceptions" in a constant state of flux.
• Reason as a Slave: His provocative ethical stance that "Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions," arguing that morality is grounded in sentiment rather than logic.
• The Critique of Miracles: His argument that because miracles violate the laws of nature established by uniform experience, no human testimony can ever sufficiently prove them.

We also examine Hume’s career beyond philosophy, including his massive six-volume The History of England, which became a bestseller and made him wealthy. Finally, we discuss the complexities of his legacy, from his influence on Immanuel Kant and Albert Einstein to recent controversies regarding his writings on race and his financial involvement in slave plantations in Grenada.

Whether you are interested in epistemology, the history of religion, or the foundations of cognitive science, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the man who sought to introduce the experimental method of reasoning into moral subjects.

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Published on 2 days, 22 hours ago