A mitigated scepticism : a study of David Hume's philosophical and political thought in its intellectual context
This study of David Hume suggests that the unity of his thought Is to be found more In an attitude of mind than In a precise body of epistemological statements. His 'mitigated scepticism' was the original combination of an experimental approach with a searching mind and a rather disenchanted attitude towards the attainment of perfection In knowledge and In the practical world. But my thesis addresses these questions only Implicitly. The general picture of the Humean approach to things political and phi losophlcal Is depicted against the background of a close examination of two other themes: Hume's development towards a more 'popular' phi losophy and the phi losophlcal Import of his moral and political theory. The first subject Is studied through an analysis of the formal qualities of Hume's phi losophlcal writings; the second, through a discussion of Hume's position on the origin of Justice and government and one's obi Igatlon to them. The conclusion that my thesis tentatively advances Is that both In metaphysics and politics Hume's approach Is based upon the attainment of a state of equl IIbrlum between theoretical and practical considerations, and between sceptical and naturalistic tendencies. Hume's desire
Castiglione, Dario
Philosophy of David Hume
A mitigated scepticism : a study of David Hume's philosophical and political thought in its intellectual context. This study of David Hume suggests that the unity of his thought Is to be found more In an attitude of mind than In a precise body of epistemological statements. His 'mitigated scepticism' was the original combination of an experimental approach with a searching mind and a rather disenchanted attitude towards the attainment of perfection In knowledge and In the practical world. But my thesis addresses these questions only Implicitly. The general picture of the Humean approach to things political and phi losophlcal Is depicted against the background of a close examination of two other themes: Hume's development towards a more 'popular' phi losophy and the phi losophlcal Import of his moral and political theory. The first subject Is studied through an analysis of the formal qualities of Hume's phi losophlcal writings; the second, through a discussion of Hume's position on the origin of Justice and government and one's obi Igatlon to them. The conclusion that my thesis tentatively advances Is that both In metaphysics and politics Hume's approach Is based upon the attainment of a state of equl IIbrlum between theoretical and practical considerations, and between sceptical and naturalistic tendencies. Hume's desire
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