Hume's System. An Examination of the First Book of his 'Treatise'.

Pears, David.

ISBN 10: 0198750994 / ISBN 13: 9780198750994

Published by Oxford University Press., Oxford, 1990

About this Item

pp.x+204. 21.5cm. Bibliography. Index. Soft covers. A good clean copy.

Seller Inventory # 23522

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Hume's System. An Examination of the First Book of his 'Treatise'.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press., Oxford
• Publication Date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198750994
• ISBN 13: 9780198750994
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

About this title

Synopsis

In this compelling analysis David Pears examines the foundations of Hume's theory of the mind as presented in the first book of the Treatise. Past studies have tended to take one of two extreme views: that Hume relies exclusively on a theory of meaning, or that he relies exclusively on a theory of truth and evidence. Steering a middle course between these positions, Pears argues that Hume's theory of ideas serves both functions. He examines in detail its application to three difficult problems: causation, personal identity, and sense perception. Hume's solutions, Pears argues, are not theories that can be given a place in standard classification of philosophical theories, but rather depend upon a subtle form of naturalism not altogether unlike Wittgenstein's naturalism. A clearly written and argued study, Hume's System will be of special interest to students and scholars of the history of philosophy.

From the Back Cover

The author steers a middle course between the two extreme views adopted in recent works on Hume: that he relies exclusively on a theory of meaning, or that he relies exclusively on a theory of truth and evidence. Professor Pears argues that Hume's theory of ideas serves both functions, and he examines in detail its application to three difficult problems: causation, personal identity, and sense perception.