“There is nothing which is not the subject of debate, and in which men of learning are not of contrary opinions. The most trivial question escapes not our controversy, and in the most momentous we are not able to give any certain decision. Disputes are multiplied, as if every thing were uncertain; and these disputes are managed with the greatest warmth, as if every thing was certain. Amidst all this bustle ’tis not reason, which carries the prize, but eloquence; and no man needs ever despair of gaining proselytes to the most extravagent hypothesis, who has art enough to represent it in any favourable colours.”
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David Hume, Introduction to A Treatise of Human Nature (New York: Dover Publications, 2003), p.ix.
David Hume, Introduction to A Treatise of Human Nature (New York: Dover Publications, 2003), p.ix.
5 comments:
Years ago, I realised that it seems to be a social convention that people feel they can pick up and look at any book left aside by a holiday swimming pool. So I took a couple of volumes of Hume on holiday, and left them free for inspection while I frolicked. My wife told me that eyebrows were raised and low whistles expelled. No-one stole them.
Heh.
"There is more to be learnt from each page of David Hume than from the collected philosophical works of Hegel, Herbart, and Schleiermacher taken together." Arthur Schopenhuaer, The World as Will and Representation, Vol. II, Ch. 46.
If everybody is making silly noise does that excuse me from recognising the truth?
I mean, if Hume was complaining, he must have had a reason, right?
Did he actually come out with it?
Thank G-d for that, if He exists, which I shall eloquently attempt not to do because dearieme might be looking.
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