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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Prathyusha Guduru In the history of philosophy‚ two of the most prominent philosophers were Hobbes and Hume. Both made important contributions to the world of ethics. One of the main important things they differed on is reason. Hobbs felt that reason is way to seek peace but Hume felt the reason is only a slave to passions. In the following paragraphs‚ you will see how Hobbes and Hume explain their different views on reason the theories of the two philosophers are analyzed in depth‚ so that
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knowledge being a posteriori‚ or attained through experience and sensation. In an obvious way‚ David Hume’s empiricist epistemology directly contrasted Descartes rationalism‚ specifically by how he believed humans can attain knowledge. According to Hume‚ humans understand the world by experiencing different perceptions: impressions/sensations and ideas/thoughts. The amount of force and vivacity of the perception allows humans to differentiate between the two. Impressions and sensations are more forceful
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David Hume was an early 18th century philosopher that is best known for covering a variety of theories. He covered that reason alone cannot be a motive to the will‚ moral distinctions are not derived from reason and moral distinctions are direct from the moral sentiments [Treatise of Human Nature‚ 11]. “Reason is‚ and ought only to be the slave of the passions‚ and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them” [T 2.3.3 p. 414] in his work A Treatise of Human Nature. Reason
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Hume tells the readers that “Tenderness to their offspring‚ in all sensible beings‚ is commonly able alone to counterballance the strongest motives of self-love”‚ and offers the example‚ “What interest can a fond mother have in view‚ who loses her health
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Explain Hume’s views on miracles. Hume believed we establish cause and effect relationships based on our experience of this world which leads us to make predictions about what will happen in similar cases in the future. To Hume a miracle is a transgression of the laws of nature caused by God or by some form of invisible agent. He uses a priori reasoning supporting this with a number of sub-arguments designed to discredit testimonies regarding miracles. He argued that miracles cannot exist
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The design argument consists of the philosophies of God’s existence and his roll in this universe. Hume’s dialogues on Natural Religion have also influenced other philosophers to be intrigued over the design argument‚ and analogical reasoning. The main philosophers in his book that Hume’s considers their different positions and argues their points of view are; Demea‚ Cleanthes‚ and Philo. All three philosophers believe in God’s existence and creations‚ but each is somewhat skeptical. Demea is looking
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Descartes VS Hume René Descartes and David Hume touched upon epistemology on the same question‚ “where does human knowledge come from?” They both came to very different conclusions. Descartes claimed that our knowledge came from human reasoning alone and this is an absolute certainty principle. This faculty of reasoning is innate tool that came with human species. He called this tool‚ “mind‚” which is separated from our body. Hume on the other hand‚ claimed that human learned from observing the
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Necessity”‚ Hume wants to discuss what liberty and necessity mean and whether or not they can be compatible with each other. This is all really a discussion of Hume’s view of free will and determinism‚ and how they can be easily reconciled through compatibilism where for example both liberty and necessity are required for morality. He starts off by considering the idea of necessity and defines it as‚ “the constant conjunction of similar objects‚ and the consequent inference from one to another” (Hume 150)
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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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