PHIL 437A: Week #1 Study Questions

1. At what age did Hume begin writing the first Treatise? What were you writing when you were that age?

2. What does Norton mean by saying that Hume is a post-skeptical philosopher?

3. What are the two kinds of perceptions? What is the main difference between them? What is an impression of the senses? Give an example. What is an impression of reflection? Give an example.

4. What was the strongest passion in Hume's life?

5. In the Advertisement to the Treatise Hume says that he defers to the judgment of the public? Did he?

6. What does Hume take the aim of logic to be? Do you agree?

7. What does Hume mean by "There is no question of importance, whose decision is not compriz'd in the science of man."(T, p. 4)? Is he confusing the descriptive with the normative? Make a case for both sides.

8. Something to think about: Why does Hume call Book 1 a treatise on human understanding rather than on human knowledge?