Seminar Paper

Seminar paper: David Hume –
An enquiry concerning human understanding
Different ideas:
1st Section:
Different parts of philosophy

• The division between two different types of philosophy or philosophical points of view: 1) Studies the experience and analyses various objects, taking in consideration its structure, colour and the light which is presented under and try to interpret them in a way that is different to the usual and common understanding. 2) The second type of philosophy deals with the behaviour and the reasoning of man, whereas the 1st group look at the actions of man and try to reason upon them, the 2nd group questions the behaviour and reasoning that will lead to the action. They look at ‘the foundation of morals’
• David Hume seems to be more inclined to belong to the 2nd group and hopes to achieve an appeal to the wise and the knowledgeable alike.
• He speaks of hidden truth, a possible interpretation of an experience that has not yet been approached.
• He describes one type of philosophy being able to bring man into perfection, (supposedly a man of unbreakable moral values and philosophically aware) and there are other philosophers that are affected by their emotions becoming an obstacle to their understanding.
• David Hume believes in mistakes being able to become lessons so long as we are able to understand it. He is intrigued by popular contradiction and feels the need to investigate an alternative point of view to the ‘common’ ideas.
• He distinguishes two aspects of man, where one is reasonable and can become aware of science and help him grow intellectually but also he can be distracted and kept busy by the common lifestyle, occupied by social life and labour. This can be solved when science becomes your passion, if science becomes your social life and your labour you can become a man of balance.
• He doesn’t entirely reject metaphysics and believes there can be reasonable ideas deriving from it.
• Metaphysics is easy and not explanatory enough so it can never be used as an exact science or way of knowing.
• David Hume believes that Metaphysics cannot serve a good purpose to science due to its ambiguity, abstractness and shapeless form therefore it serves a greater purpose in art.
• The true pleasures of life can only be felt through science and education. David Hume strongly believes in being able to enjoy life through science.
• Metaphysics is a dangerous belief because it can lead to things that are unreal and one can become curious by these false creations of the mind. Metaphysics is ‘deceitful philosophy.’
• David Hume understands the complexity and power of the mind, as he gives little of explanation to his interpretation of the mind and its power one can acknowledge that he does not speak of things he is not 100% aware of.

General Concepts from this section:
• Division between different ways of philosophy
• Mistakes leading to reasonable conclusion
• Different aspects of man and the equilibrium between mankind through science
• Not entirely rejecting metaphysics but understanding there is no reason within.
• Mind as a complex matter that is yet not fully understood.

2nd section:
Origin of Ideas

• Hume recognises the difference between mind in a moment, and the moment we recall. Memory can never recreate experience.
• He acknowledges what someone may tell you because he recognises the terminology you use aka ‘I’m in love’ but one cannot experience what you do by merely explaining what this experience is.
• Hume divides thoughts and ideas from the way they are expressed. This is a relevant division since often wisdom and information is lost not through the interpretation of mind but through the interpretation which is language.
• He distinguishes the power of mind at the moment of first interpretation.
• What hasn’t been experience simply doesn’t exist. If there was no sense perception involved, it is impossible to corroborate the fact.
• Sense perception leads to the creation of ideas.

General concepts from this section:

• Memory cannot recreate experience only recall a microcosm of it.
• Understanding the terminology implied does not mean being able to experience what’s mentioned.
• First interpretation is the most pure.
• What has not been perceived by any sense simply cannot exist.
• No idea is created without the interpretation of senses.

Seminar questions:

1. To what extent is useful to create a division in the way one understands philosophy? E.g.: Hume’s ideas of philosophy understanding the action of objects and the ideas of understanding behaviour that leads to those actions.
2. Based on our understanding of Hume’s ideas what can be identified as ‘hidden truth’?
3. Does philosophical awareness lead a man to ‘perfection’?
4. To what extent is Hume’s idea of mistakes still allowing us to achieve truth possible?
5. If mind cannot recreate through memory the exact experience then how ‘truthful’ is memory?
6. Can language deteriorate information from the moment it is perceived to the moment it is being spoken about or interpreted?
7. To what extent does the idea of ‘what hasn’t been perceived simply cannot be proven to exist’ logical?