In this paper I will be contrasting the moral philosophies of David Hume and Immanuel Kant. Although I will be discussing several ideas from each philosopher the main theme of my paper will be dealing with the source of morality. It is my opinion that Hume’s sentiment based‚ empirical method is more practical than the reason based‚ a priori theory of Kant. According to Kant moral law must be known a priori‚ and must be able to be universally applied to all beings. Kant asserts that empirical explanations
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In Appendix I.‚ Concerning Moral Sentiment‚ David Hume looks to find a place in morality for reason‚ and sentiment. Through‚ five principles he ultimately concludes that reason has no place within the concept of morality‚ but rather is something that can only assist sentiment in matters concerning morality. And while reason can be true or false‚ those truths or falsities apply to facts‚ not to morality. He then argues morals are the direct result of sentiment‚ or the inner feeling within a human
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Hume ’s view of what constitutes personal identity rests heavily upon his preceding theories concerning the nature of ideas and causation. The most important preceding ideas to take into account are the rejection of causality and necessary connection and his strict empiric stance on the basis of knowledge and the only two types of perception being ideas that are reliant on initial impressions. There will clearly be difficulty in defining and explaining ’the self ’ when both the notions of causality
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Philosophy Essay (Descartes vs. Locke) Socrates once said‚ “As for me‚ all I know is that I know nothing.” Several philosophers contradicted Socrates’ outlook and believed that true knowledge was in fact attainable. This epistemological view however had several stances to it‚ as philosophers held different beliefs in regards to the derivation of true knowledge. Rationalists believed that the mind was the source of true knowledge‚ while in Empiricism‚ true knowledge derived from the senses. Rene
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Thereupon‚ Hume made the suggestion that we as humans have the ability to possess knowledge of the “matters of fact” concerning objects that we have never seen or experienced before through a process which we have known as “cause and effect”. My knowledge that my friend is in France might have been caused by a letter to that effect‚ and my knowledge that the sun will rise tomorrow is inferred from past experience‚ which tells me that the sun has risen every day in the past.Hume then asks how we know
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This paper focuses on the ideas of David Hume and his work concerning cause and effect. Firstly‚ I am going to explain impressions and ideas and how Hume concludes that we cannot have the idea of power. Secondly‚ I am going to explain why Hume declares that there is a perception necessary connection between events. Thirdly‚ I will explain Hume’s definitions of causation and the conclusion he cones up with that states that cause is the conjunction that reinforces our ideas. Lastly‚ I will raise two
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According to Hume‚ there are two types of beliefs‚ relations of ideas and matters of facts. Relations of ideas are indisputable. Such as a widow is a woman whose husband died. Such thoughts are usually definitions. Since it is impossible for a Widow to be anything other then the definition‚ these ideas are indisputable. Matters of facts claim that if the opposite is imaginable‚ then it is possible. Matters of fact are debatable‚ such as the belief in a God or that the world will end. While it is
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David Hume 1772: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding‚ sec. 1: Of the Different Species of Philosophy. section paragraph title 1 1-2 (p.1-2) disctinction between two philosophies a) moral philosophy (science of human nature): man born for action -> virtue as the most valuable‚ method is feeling b) man as reasonable being -> to form the understanding of oneself‚ dark thoughts get analyzed‚ method is thinking 2 3-7 (p.2-5) what the effects of both philosohpies are and why we have to
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The Role of God in the Meditations Descartes’ Meditations revolve around presenting the reader with arguments regarding existence. In his first meditation‚ he elucidates the idea that he was raised with numerous false beliefs‚ all of which he believes should be thrown out in order to reach a certain truth. A new foundation is brought about‚ as opposed to that of medieval times. The world that we apprehend through the sense‚ since senses lend themselves to doubt‚ is out of the window. The
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David Hume would be considered a major philosopher in the formation of what we call psychology. David Hume believed everything that took place came about due to a cause. David Hume also believed that although there was a cause for just about everything‚ many humans were not aware of those causes. David Hume believed that an individual should not expect for an act to take place just because it had taken place previously. Lastly David Hume thought that those who believed in
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