David Hume''s Humanity - The Philosophy of Common Life and Its Limits

Scott Yenor argues that David Hume's reputation as a skeptic is greatly exaggerated and that Hume's skepticism is a moment leading Hume to defend common life philosophy and the humane commercial republic. Gentle, humane virtues reflect the proper reaction to the complex mixture of human faculties that define the human condition.

List of contents

1. The Promise of Hume's Philosophy of Common Life
2. 'Nothing but Sophistry and Illusion': Metaphysical Speculation Before Hume
3. Active Sovereignty in Natural and Moral Philosophy
4. 'Mitigated Scepticism' and Our 'Mixed Kind of Life': The Philosophic Modesty of Hume's Science of Common Life
5. The Liberal Imagination and the Problem of Abstract Speculative Principles in Politics
6. Humanity and Commerce
7. Religious Revolution and England's Humane Political Constitution
8. Religious Belief and Hume's Philosophy of Common Life
9. Humanity and Theology in Hume's Religious Dialogues
10. Toward a More Philosophical Philosophy of Common Life

About the author

Scott Yenor is a Professor of Political Science at Boise State University, USA, where he teaches political philosophy. He is the author of Family Politics: The Idea of Marriage in Modern Political Thought (2011). He earned his PhD in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago.

Summary

Scott Yenor argues that David Hume's reputation as a skeptic is greatly exaggerated and that Hume's skepticism is a moment leading Hume to defend common life philosophy and the humane commercial republic. Gentle, humane virtues reflect the proper reaction to the complex mixture of human faculties that define the human condition.

Additional text

“David Hume’s Humanity: The Philosophy of Common Life and Its Limits … not only presents a synoptic vision of Hume’s thought, but also argues that an amended version of it remains vital and relevant today – especially to political philosophy.” (Nathan Sasser,Journal of Scottish Philosophy, Vol. 17 (1), 2019)

Report

"David Hume's Humanity: The Philosophy of Common Life and Its Limits ... not only presents a synoptic vision of Hume's thought, but also argues that an amended version of it remains vital and relevant today - especially to political philosophy." (Nathan Sasser,Journal of Scottish Philosophy, Vol. 17 (1), 2019)

Product details

• Authors: S Yenor, S. Yenor, Scott Yenor
• Publisher: Palgrave UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 17.10.2016
• EAN: 9781349711932
• ISBN: 978-1-349-71193-2
• No. of pages: 261
• Series: Springer Palgrave Macmillan; Recovering Political Philosophy; Recovering Political Philosophy
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; B, History: specific events & topics, Political Science, Political Philosophy, Political Theory, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, Political History, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Political Science and International Studies, Social Philosophy, History: specific events and topics, World Politics, Metaphysics, Social sciences—Philosophy