On Hume from
History of Western Philosophy - Bertrand Russell
All probable reasoning is nothing but a species of sensations.
When I am convinced of a principle, 'tis only an idea which strikes more strongly upon me.
"If we believe that fire warms, or water refreshes, 'tis only because it costs us too much pains to think otherwise."
"we cannot help believing, but no belief can be grounded in reason. Nor can one line of action be more rational than another, since all alike are based upon irrational convictions."
"Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous."
BR writes: - it is evident that he (Hume) started out with a belief that scientific method yields the truth, and nothing but the truth; he ended however with the conviction that belief is never rational, since we know nothing.
-Hume's skepticism rests entirely upon his rejection of the principle of induction.
induction is an independent logical principle, incapable of being inferred either from experience or from other logical principles and without this principle Science is impossible.
A has been found accompanied by B every time - then probability not far short of certainty. It is sufficient probability for practical purposes.
-the growth of unreason throughout the nineteenth century and what passed of the twentieth is a natural sequel to Hume's destruction of empiricism.
Bertrand Russell
History of Western Philosophy - Bertrand Russell
All probable reasoning is nothing but a species of sensations.
When I am convinced of a principle, 'tis only an idea which strikes more strongly upon me.
"If we believe that fire warms, or water refreshes, 'tis only because it costs us too much pains to think otherwise."
"we cannot help believing, but no belief can be grounded in reason. Nor can one line of action be more rational than another, since all alike are based upon irrational convictions."
"Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous."
BR writes: - it is evident that he (Hume) started out with a belief that scientific method yields the truth, and nothing but the truth; he ended however with the conviction that belief is never rational, since we know nothing.
-Hume's skepticism rests entirely upon his rejection of the principle of induction.
induction is an independent logical principle, incapable of being inferred either from experience or from other logical principles and without this principle Science is impossible.
A has been found accompanied by B every time - then probability not far short of certainty. It is sufficient probability for practical purposes.
-the growth of unreason throughout the nineteenth century and what passed of the twentieth is a natural sequel to Hume's destruction of empiricism.
Bertrand Russell