David Hume Flashcards
life
When and where was David Hume born?
David Hume was born in Edinburgh on the 7th of May 1711.
Where did he go after university?
After attending the University of Edinburgh he proceeded his life and became a banker in Bristol.
When did he write his first book?
After he had saved enough money he went to France were he wrote his first book Treatise which was a failure.
Who was he a secretary for?
First he became a tutor for a year, and then he became secretary for General Saint Clair.
Which book did he write while in contact with French philosophers.
While in contact with Les Philosophers he wrote a short history of England.
When did he die?
After he was ‘Under Secretary’ for the Northern Department, he retired to Edinburgh where he died in 1776.
What he think of the design argument?
Hume believed that the design argument was created from emotion and not rationality.
Why did many people think that the design argument was true?
Many people looked at nature and saw patterns and orginisation. An example of this would be the snowflake, it is very simple but creates something much more complex.
Why else did many people think that the design argument was true?
People saw in nature that everything had a purpose. Like all the parts in a watch that make the watch work.
What was “the new scene”?
“The new scene” was in Hume’s eyes a new way of thinking, not looking at the tradional texts of life, but looking at scientific discoveries.
How did “the new scene” impact Hume’s appearance?
“The new scene”, was thought to be a very sceptical method, questioning the existence and truth of everything however obvious it seems. This caused Hume to be portrayed as very sceptical.
Why did Hume get into trouble with the church?
Hume was called an “infidel” and denied a professor of philosophy from two universities because of his sceptical views and “the new scene”.
How did Hume criticise the design argument?
He said that even if the world is designed, the world is part of the entire universe and so that is not. This means that even if God did design the Earth he didn’t design the universe.
How else did Hume criticise the design argument?
He said that the design argument is too human like, and so a God that is human enough to design this is not a possibility.
