An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding"An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding" is a book by David Hume created as a revision of an earlier work, Hume's "A Treatise of Human Nature". The argument of the Enquiry proceeds by a series of incremental steps, separated into chapters which logically succeed one another. After expounding his epistemology, Hume explains how to apply his principles to specific topics. This book has proven highly influential, both in the years that would immediately follow and today. Immanuel Kant points to it as the book which woke him from his self-described "dogmatic slumber." |
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able actions allowed animal appearance argument arise assurance authority belief body carry cause character circumstances common conceive concerning conclusion conduct connexion consequences consider contrary course derived determined difficulty discover distinct doubt effect employ endeavour enquiry entirely equal established event evidence examine existence expect experience external fact farther feel follow force former give greater human idea ignorant imagination immediately impossible impression infer influence instance intelligence kind knowledge known laws less mankind manner matter of fact means mind miracle moral motion nature necessary necessity never objects observation operations opinion original particular passion past perhaps person philosophers possible present pretend principles probable proceed produce proof proper prove qualities question reason reflection regard relation religion render result scepticism seems senses sensible sentiment similar species sufficient supposed testimony thing thought understanding uniform universe usual whole