An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding: (Oxford Philosophical Texts)

Oxford Philosophical Texts Series Editor: John Cottingham The Oxford Philosophical Texts series consists of authoritative teaching editions of canonical texts in the history of philosophy from the ancient world down to modern times. Each volume provides a clear, well laid out text together with a comprehensive introduction by a leading specialist, giving the student detailed critical guidance on the intellectual context of the work and the structure and philosophical importance of the main arguments. Endnotes are supplied which provide further commentary on the arguments and explain unfamiliar references and terminology, and a full bibliography and index are also included. The series aims to build up a definitive corpus of key texts in the Western philosophical tradition, which will form a reliable and enduring resource for students and teachers alike. David Hume's aim in writing An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding (1748) was to introduce his philosophy to a European culture in which many educated people read original works of philosophy. He gives an elegant and accessible presentation of strikingly original and challenging views about the limited powers of human understanding, the attractions of scepticism, the compatibility of free will and determinism, and weaknesses in the foundations of religion. Hume's philosophy was highly controversial in the eighteenth century and remains so today. The text printed in this edition is that of the Clarendon critical edition of Hume's works. A substantial introduction by the editor explains the intellectual background to the work and surveys its main themes. The volume also includes detailed explanatory notes on the text, a glossary of terms, a full list of references, and a section of supplementary readings.

Table of Contents:
Part 1: Introductory Material How to Use this Book List of Abbreviations Editor's Introduction 1: Life and Early Publishing History 2: Cultural and Intellectual Background 3: Two General Features of Hume's Philosophy 4: Philosophy of Mind 5: Epistemology 6: Metaphysics 7: Philosophy of Religion 8: Scepticism Supplementary Reading The Text Printed in this Edition Part 2: The Text An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding 1: Of the Different Species of Philosophy 2: Of the Origin of Ideas 3: Of the Association of Ideas 4: Sceptical Doubts concerning the Operations of the Understanding 5: Sceptical Solution of these Doubts 6: Of Probability 7: Of the Idea of Necessary Connexion 8: Of Liberty and Necessity 9: Of the Reason of Animals 10: Of Miracles 11: Of a Particular Providence and of a Future State 12: Of the Academical or Sceptical Philosophy Part 3: Supplementary Material Annotations to the Enquiry Glossary References Index

Review :
`These new Oxford University Press editions have been meticulously collated from various exatant versions. Each text has an excellent introduction including an overview of Hume's thought and an account of his life and times. Even the difficult, and rarely commented-on, chapters on space and time are elucidated. There are also useful notes on the text and glossary. These scholarly new editions are ideally adapted for a whole range of readers, from beginners to experts.' Jane O'Grady, Catholic Herald, 4/8/00.