A Treatise of Human Nature · Chapter
Section VII: Conclusion of This Book explained
Hume reflects on the daunting voyage of philosophical inquiry, expressing deep skepticism about the weakness and disorder of human faculties.
What happens
Hume reflects on the daunting voyage of philosophical inquiry, expressing deep skepticism about the weakness and disorder of human faculties. He describes his feeling of isolation and the opposition he faces from various intellectual groups. He argues that memory, senses, and understanding are all founded on the imagination and the vivacity of ideas. He contrasts the dangerous errors of religion with the merely ridiculous errors of philosophy, and expresses hope that his work on human nature will contribute to knowledge. He concludes by advocating for a moderate, true skepticism that is diffident of its own doubts and convictions.
Themes in this chapter
Skepticism About the External World
Hume expresses profound doubt about the ability of reason to justify our beliefs, noting that even after accurate reasoning, he can give no reason for his assent, only a strong propensity to view objects in a certain way.
Custom and General Rules
Hume identifies experience and habit as the principles that instruct us in past conjunctions of objects and determine us to expect the same in the future, forming the basis of our beliefs.
Morality as Sentiment
Hume suggests that philosophy, if just, presents only mild and moderate sentiments, contrasting this with the dangerous errors of religion, which can disturb the conduct of life.
Characters to notice
- David Hume
The author reflects on his philosophical journey, expressing despair, isolation, and a commitment to a moderate skepticism.
Key passages
“Methinks I am like a man, who having struck on many shoals, and having narrowly escaped shipwreck in passing a small firth, has yet the temerity to put out to sea in the same leaky weather-beaten vessel, and even carries his ambition so far as to think of compassing the globe under these disadvantageous circumstances.”
I feel like a sailor who has survived many near-disasters in shallow waters, yet is bold enough to set out on a vast ocean in the same damaged ship, aiming to circumnavigate the globe despite the poor conditions.
Hume uses a nautical metaphor to express the perilous and ambitious nature of his philosophical project.
“The memory, senses, and understanding are, therefore, all of them founded on the imagination, or the vivacity of our ideas.”
Thus, memory, sensory perception, and rational thought are all based on the imagination, which gives our ideas their force and liveliness.
This is a key summary of Hume's argument that the imagination is the foundation of all cognitive faculties.
“A true sceptic will be diffident of his philosophical doubts, as well as of his philosophical conviction; and will never refuse any innocent satisfaction, which offers itself, upon account of either of them.”
A genuine skeptic will be as uncertain about his doubts as he is about his beliefs, and will not reject any harmless pleasure simply because of his philosophical stance.
Hume defines his ideal of a moderate skepticism, which avoids dogmatism in both belief and doubt.