David Hume By: Lyla Kolman “Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them.” ("ThinkExist.com")

Stats British Empiricist British Empiricist Believed that the only true knowledge was gained by experience, sometimes just by the senses. (“Free Dictionary”) Believed that the only true knowledge was gained by experience, sometimes just by the senses. (“Free Dictionary”) Influential during his lifetime Influential during his lifetime Historian, essayist, worked minor jobs for the English government (Morris) Historian, essayist, worked minor jobs for the English government (Morris) Influenced by: John Locke, Aristotle. (Schenk) Influenced by: John Locke, Aristotle. (Schenk)

Life Story Born in Edinburgh in 1711 Born in Edinburgh in 1711 Accompanied his older brother to Edinburgh University at age 12 Accompanied his older brother to Edinburgh University at age 12 Wished to be a scholar Wished to be a scholar 1734 – 1742, published A treatise of Human Nature and Essays, Moral and Political, both moderately successful – 1742, published A treatise of Human Nature and Essays, Moral and Political, both moderately successful. Worked as Librarian to the Edinburgh Faculty of Advocates while very successful but ridiculously long History of England. Worked as Librarian to the Edinburgh Faculty of Advocates while very successful but ridiculously long History of England. Known as an atheist and skeptic after writings claiming religion and scientific fact were merely theories of the human mind. His publisher was even threatened when he attempted to publish The Natural History of Religion and A Dissertation to the Passions. Known as an atheist and skeptic after writings claiming religion and scientific fact were merely theories of the human mind. His publisher was even threatened when he attempted to publish The Natural History of Religion and A Dissertation to the Passions. Worked briefly for the English government in France, returned to England to be the Under-Secretary of State in Englad, then finally returned to Edinburgh. Worked briefly for the English government in France, returned to England to be the Under-Secretary of State in Englad, then finally returned to Edinburgh. Died of intestinal cancer in Died of intestinal cancer in Dialogues concerning Natural Religon, his most controversial work, was published after his death. Dialogues concerning Natural Religon, his most controversial work, was published after his death. (Morris)

Comparison to Plato’s Theory Plato believed in two types of knowledge Plato believed in two types of knowledge 1 – Knowledge gathered from sense perception 1 – Knowledge gathered from sense perception 2 – Knowledge gathered from reasoning 2 – Knowledge gathered from reasoning Divided Line theory – subject matter divided into things that can be known by sense perception, and then things that can be known only in the mind. These are further subdivided to create four areas, a “line” divided into four: imagination, real-world knowledge, scientific/logical knowledge, wisdom. Divided Line theory – subject matter divided into things that can be known by sense perception, and then things that can be known only in the mind. These are further subdivided to create four areas, a “line” divided into four: imagination, real-world knowledge, scientific/logical knowledge, wisdom.(Uebersax)  Hume believed in only one kind of knowledge: knowledge gathered by sense perception.  He believed not everything could be known, that humans were limited to only what our senses could perceive, and so truly explaining our reason for existence or the exact qualities of worldy objects is impossible. (Lavine, 1984)

Theory of Sense Perception 1)Impressions – the immediate reaction or emotional response to something, such as passion, the five senses, etc. More powerful, since it is the original experience. Simple: one or few impressions experience simultaneously Simple: one or few impressions experience simultaneously Complex: many impressions experienced simultaneously Complex: many impressions experienced simultaneously 2) Ideas – the recollection or memories of impressions, described by Hume as “copies or faint images of impressions.” Simple: a memory of a simple impression, corresponds accurately Simple: a memory of a simple impression, corresponds accurately Complex: a memory of a simple impression, corresponds less accurately. Complex: a memory of a simple impression, corresponds less accurately. Imagination – made up of many simple impressions to create a complex idea. Imagination – made up of many simple impressions to create a complex idea.  Hume believed nothing could be “known” without a prior impression of it, only a sensory experience can prove that something exists. Two Kinds of Perception: (Lavine, 1984)

Perception Related to Experience Hume stated that experience consisted of many atomic elements – with an impression or idea constituting every atom. Theory influenced by similar theories of John Locke and other previous empiricists. Hume believed that an inner force creates simple ideas to form complex ones, and so create thoughts and theories. To explain this, he developed the three laws of the association of ideas. (Lavine, 1984)

The Laws of Association Resemblance between two ideas causes an association Contiguity between two ideas causes an association Cause and effect of something create an association between both ideas. Most powerful connections, only way to deduce “facts” without directly experiencing them (Lavine, 1984)

Implications of Theory Knowledge can only be gathered from sense perception. Sense perception consists only of our direct experiences and our reflection on those experiences. We can only know what we have directly sensed, or can theorize by cause and effect. This means religious and scientific knowledge are only associations of ideas born in the psychology of the human mind.

Bibliography Fieser, James. "Hume:A Moral Theory." Internet Enyclopedia of Philosophy. N.p., 5 Jul Web. 10 Feb Lavine, T.Z. (1984). From socrates to sarte: the philosophic quest. New York: Bantam Books. Schenk, Ken. "Famous Empiricists." Quadrilateral Thoughts. Blogger.com, 29 Jul Web. 15 Feb Morris, William Edward, "David Hume", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),. Uebersax, John S. "Plato's Divided Line Analogy." Works on Psychology and Religion. N.p., 05 Mar Web. 15 Feb "David Hume Quotes." ThinkExist.com. Think Exist, Web. 15 Feb ALL IMAGES FROM GOOGLE.COM OR CLIPART