12 Questions
Why did Hume believe that knowledge of God is impossible?
Because he thought we can only learn from what we experience
What does Common Sense Philosophy emphasize?
The trust in our senses and innate perception
What belief does Direct Realism hold?
The world as immediately experienced is accurate
What role did David Hume's upbringing play in shaping his philosophical views?
His father being a minister influenced his rationalist perspective
Which philosophy asserts that the mind is designed to help control emotions, understand duty to God, and reason?
Common Sense Philosophy
What distinguishes Faculty of Psychology according to the text?
It describes various mental abilities without referencing a brain part
What is the primary role of reasoning as described by the rationalist view?
To control emotions and understand our duty to God
Which of the following is NOT a key principle of Common Sense Philosophy as described in the text?
Our rational minds need to be actively engaged in the process of perception
Based on the information provided, what can be inferred about the relationship between Direct Realism and the associationistic principle?
Direct Realism rejects the associationistic principle as unnecessary
What is the primary distinction between Faculty of Psychology and other psychological theories?
It describes mental abilities without attempting to explain their underlying mechanisms
Based on the information provided, which of the following statements best represents Hume's empiricist view of knowledge?
Knowledge is limited to what can be directly experienced through the senses
Which of the following statements best summarizes the relationship between Common Sense Philosophy and Direct Realism, as described in the text?
Direct Realism is a foundational principle of Common Sense Philosophy
Study Notes
Early Life and Philosophy
- Born in Scotland to a minister father and a mother from an important family
- Uncle was an astronomer
Rationalism and Reasoning
- Was a rationalist
- Believed that the mind is designed to reason
- Reasoning helps control emotions, appetites, and passions, and understand and perform duty to God
- Even those who doubt reasoning are using reasoning to doubt its existence
Hume's Philosophy
- Believed that knowledge of God is impossible because we cannot experience God
- Thought that we can only learn from what we experience
Commonsense Philosophy
- Believed in the existence of a physical reality because it makes common sense to
- Eye witness testimony is important and considered strong evidence
- Our senses are given to us to make sense of the world, and we naturally believe we can trust them
Direct Realism
- Direct Realism: The belief that the world as we immediately experience it is accurate
- Our rational minds don’t need to be active in this process
- Our perception of the world is not built from the stacking of senses, but from our innate power of perception
Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty psychologists refer to various mental abilities in their descriptions of the mind
- Does not refer to a part of the brain and is not used to explain mental phenomena
- It is simply a mental ability to most psychologists
Explore the life and philosophical views of David Hume, a Scottish philosopher known for his rationalist beliefs, Commonsense Philosophy, and skepticism towards knowledge of God. Learn about his upbringing, influences, and key ideas in philosophy.
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