Humes Presence in the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
Nowhere in The Dialogues does Hume address his readers directly. As a result, it may not immediately be clear whether Hume is expressing his own opinions through one of his characters or is using a character to represent a position he wishes to examine, perhaps to reject. The Dialogues is a contest, and Hume, by not speaking directly in his own voice, leaves it-officially, at least-to his readers to judge who, if anyone, wins. The central problem of The Dialogues is to consider what Hume understood by skepticism. The second section of this book examines competing views of Hume's skepticism, concluding with his own remarks. In the Treatise and the Enquiry, Hume says, when consumed by skeptical arguments and reasoning, he finds philosophical nurture in rejoining the practices of everyday life. His famous, concluding remark in The Dialogues about skepticism being the basis for a believing Christian seems cut from the same cloth.
Publisher Name | Oxford University Press USA |
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Author Name | Hagendorf, Col |
Format | Audio |
Bisac Subject Major | PHI |
Language | NG |
Isbn 10 | 0190673508 |
Isbn 13 | 9780190673505 |
Target Age Group | min:NA, max:NA |
Dimensions | 00.71" H x 00.05" L x 30.00" W |
Page Count | 168 |
Robert J. Fogelin is Professor of Philosophy and Sherman Fairchild Professor in the Humanities at Dartmouth College. He is the author of Walking the Tightrope of Reason (OUP 2002), Hume's Skeptical Crisis (OUP 2009), Figuratively Speaking (OUP 2011), and more.