Hume

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If Descartes is the father of modern philosophy, Hume is the person who gave shape to the contemporary philosophical world. First by querying Descartes' theories about knowledge, and then developing his own modest account of knowledge, and later his theories of ethics and aesthetics.

La Trobe University


    • Nov 10, 2013 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 44m AVG DURATION
    • 16 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Hume

    Inter-Species Sympathy/Empathy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013 46:54


    According to Hume, many nonhuman animals (or beings whom he sometimes calls 'sensible creatures') are analogous to human beings in respects of the body and the mind. We are able to sympathise with an animal in similar ways we sympathise with another human being. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Inter-Species Sympathy/Empathy (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013


    According to Hume, many nonhuman animals (or beings whom he sometimes calls 'sensible creatures') are analogous to human beings in respects of the body and the mind. We are able to sympathise with an animal in similar ways we sympathise with another human being. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Sympathy/Empathy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013 47:32


    ‘Sympathy’ (or what is now often called ‘empathy’) is in Hume’s view a complex mechanism of the human mind which relies on the combined operation of three more fundamental principles: the ‘copy principle’, principle of ‘association of ideas’, and the principle of more vivid perceptions ‘enlivening’ less vivid associated perceptions. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Sympathy/Empathy (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013


    ‘Sympathy’ (or what is now often called ‘empathy’) is in Hume’s view a complex mechanism of the human mind which relies on the combined operation of three more fundamental principles: the ‘copy principle’, principle of ‘association of ideas’, and the principle of more vivid perceptions ‘enlivening’ less vivid associated perceptions. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    What Can we Know?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013 50:38


    According to Hume, all the objects of human inquiry and knowledge can be divided into two kinds (and only two kinds). They are 'relations of idea' on the one hand, which are discoverable by reason independent of real existence in the universe, and 'matters of fact' on the other, which are discoverable by experience. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    What Can we Know? (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013


    According to Hume, all the objects of human inquiry and knowledge can be divided into two kinds (and only two kinds). They are 'relations of idea' on the one hand, which are discoverable by reason independent of real existence in the universe, and 'matters of fact' on the other, which are discoverable by experience. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Association of Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013 47:35


    What Hume calls the ‘association of ideas’ is a fundamental operating ‘principle’ (i.e. mechanism) of the human mind. The principle operates by resemblance, by contiguity, and by causes and effect. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Association of Ideas (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013


    What Hume calls the ‘association of ideas’ is a fundamental operating ‘principle’ (i.e. mechanism) of the human mind. The principle operates by resemblance, by contiguity, and by causes and effect. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Impressions and Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013 53:59


    Hume divides all 'perceptions' (i.e. experiences) into 'impressions' and 'ideas'. This theory device gives him a more finely grained account of the operations of the mind than either Locke or Descartes have. Impressions are original 'perceptions of the human mind' which are vivid, forceful, strong or lively. Ideas are the 'faint images' of the original impressions. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Impressions and Ideas (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2013


    Hume divides all 'perceptions' (i.e. experiences) into 'impressions' and 'ideas'. This theory device gives him a more finely grained account of the operations of the mind than either Locke or Descartes have. Impressions are original 'perceptions of the human mind' which are vivid, forceful, strong or lively. Ideas are the 'faint images' of the original impressions. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Moral Foundations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2013 46:34


    If Hume is right in arguing that reason alone is not sufficient to generate moral judgements that distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, then what are the missing ingredients? This question brings us to Hume's positive account on the foundations of human morality. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Moral Foundations (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2013


    If Hume is right in arguing that reason alone is not sufficient to generate moral judgements that distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, then what are the missing ingredients? This question brings us to Hume's positive account on the foundations of human morality. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Moral Motivations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2013 36:27


    According to Hume, reason alone can never determine the distinction between moral good and evil. We can never find out whether an act is morally right or wrong just by using our reasoning. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Moral Motivations (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2013


    According to Hume, reason alone can never determine the distinction between moral good and evil. We can never find out whether an act is morally right or wrong just by using our reasoning. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Reason vs Passion

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2013 29:50


    Hume has said some very provocative things about the roles of, and the relations between, reasons and passions. "We speak not strictly and philosophically when we talk of the combat of passion and of reason. Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of passions, and can never pretend to be any other office than to serve and obey them." What is Hume's arguments for the claims he made? Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

    Reason vs Passion (handout)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2013


    Hume has said some very provocative things about the roles of, and the relations between, reasons and passions. "We speak not strictly and philosophically when we talk of the combat of passion and of reason. Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of passions, and can never pretend to be any other office than to serve and obey them." What is Hume's arguments for the claims he made? Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

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