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Naturalism, Experience, and Hume’s ‘Science of Human Nature’

Smith, Benedict

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Abstract

A standard interpretation of Hume’s naturalism is that it paved the way for a scientistic and ‘disenchanted’ conception of the world. My aim in this paper is to show that this is a restrictive reading of Hume, and it obscures a different and profitable interpretation of what Humean naturalism amounts to. The standard interpretation implies that Hume’s ‘science of human nature’ was a reductive investigation into our psychology. But, as Hume explains, the subject matter of this science is not restricted to introspectively accessible mental content and incorporates our social nature and interpersonal experience. Illuminating the science of human nature has implications for how we understand what Hume means by ‘experience’ and thus how we understand the context of his epistemological investigations. I examine these in turn and argue overall that Hume’s naturalism and his science of man do not simply anticipate a disenchanted conception of the world.

Citation

Smith, B. (2016). Naturalism, Experience, and Hume’s ‘Science of Human Nature’. International Journal of Philosophical Studies, 24(3), 310-323. https://doi.org/10.1080/09672559.2016.1176389

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 25, 2016
Online Publication Date May 20, 2016
Publication Date May 20, 2016
Deposit Date Apr 25, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal International Journal of Philosophical Studies
Print ISSN 0967-2559
Electronic ISSN 1466-4542
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 24
Issue 3
Pages 310-323
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09672559.2016.1176389

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