Hobbes‚ Hume and Human Nature The essence of human nature has been questioned time and time again throughout history. Because of this uncertainty many have theorized about what the essence or driving force might be. These thoughts were so influential and believed to be so true‚ that they were interpreted into political documents. David Hume (1711-1776) and Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) were two very influential people in regards to human nature. Thomas Hobbes felt more negatively than David Hume. Their
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David Hume‚ an empiricist and a materialist‚ was bent on showing that all ideas are derived from impressions we gain through sensory experiences by means of the three principles of association namely‚ resemblance‚ contiguity in time and place and cause and effect. Causal relationships (cause and effect) are the basis for all reasoning concerning matters of fact. Human beings believe that to know something fully‚ one must know the cause upon which it necessarily depends. Hume criticizes this notion
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Hume has already established that complex ideas can be broken down to simple ideas which are copies of impressions‚ or things we perceive. He categorizes “power” and “necessary connection” as complex ideas; this means we must trace back what simple ideas they come from and then what impressions those simple ideas come from. But Hume argues that there is no impression where the idea of necessary connection can come from. He first uses the examples of the billiard balls. He says‚ “…we are never able
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Empiricism One of the most notable figures in the history of western philosophy was Scottish philosopher David Hume. Hume was widely known for his views on Empiricism. Empiricism has been pondered since the beginnings of philosophy by many famous figures‚ from Aristotle to John Locke. (Wikipedia) Empiricism claims that human knowledge is founded on observation and use of the five senses. Hume published a literary work titled Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. This had a profound impact on empiricist
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is what we each individually consist of. Hume explained this theory through an analogy of a theatre. In summary‚ the mind is like a theatre‚ in which our perceptions are constantly crossing the stage‚ leaving‚ and returning‚ and this is what creates our identity. In order to reach this conclusion‚ Hume looked into himself and found that not only was he never without perceptions‚ but could never catch “himself”. In search of a core being within himself‚ Hume found only perceptions. Thus‚ he concluded
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David Hume and John Locke were both well known radical empiricists of their time. They were more radical because not only did believe in empiricism‚ but they strongly disagreed with innatism. Locke even went as far as to spend his entire book I in his “ESSAY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING” attacking innatism. They not only believe that all ideas derive from experience but they strongly oppose innatism. Descartes believed in innatism‚ that we are born with ideas and knowledge in our minds already
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Descartes and God In his groundbreaking work‚ Meditations on First Philosophy‚ the French philosopher Rene Descartes lays the groundwork for many philosophical principles by attempting to “establish a bold and lasting knowledge” (171)1. The foundations for knowledge Descartes established would go on to influence a plethora of other philosophers and philosophical works. Descartes argues in his meditations first from the point of view of complete skepticism‚ using skepticism as a tool in order to
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circumstance present and secondly the activity will result in the same experience‚ experienced in the past. However David Hume says there is a problem with induction as the future does not always have to follow the past. This is because induction is making use of causality but since we cannot see‚ touch or experience causality we cannot say it exists and this is David Hume’s argument. David Hume says that everything is a constant coincident and that our minds create a causal link because we become so accustomed
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Descartes and Euthanasia What would the world’s first modern philosopher say about one of the most controversial issues of modern times? Rene Descartes was a prominent 17th century mathematician‚ scientist‚ and philosopher. He revolutionised western philosophy with his ideas concerning knowledge‚ certainty‚ and the connection between the mind and body. Euthanasia is a complex ethical issue facing today’s society; passive euthanasia is when a patient is allowed to die by withholding or withdrawing
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Montaigne and Descartes Montaigne and Descartes both made use of a philosophical method that focused on the use of doubt to make discoveries about themselves and the world around them. However‚ they doubted different things. Descartes doubted all his previous knowledge from his senses‚ while Montaigne doubted that there were any absolute certainties in knowledge. Although they both began their philosophical processes by doubting‚ Montaigne doubting a constant static self‚ and Descartes doubted that
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