Understanding Hume

This is the first clear and non-technical introduction to philosophy through the works of the 18th century philosopher, David Hume. It covers every major philosophical issue commented upon by Hume, from epistemology, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics, to ethics and political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Looking first at Hume's discussion of each topic and clarifying his thoughts in jargon-free language, the book then relates his ideas to current contemporary thought. Readers are taken gently through both 18th century and contemporary philosophies and given lucid accounts of the key issues in each. Contents: Introduction; Where Does Thought Begin?; How Does Thought Proceed?; What Do We Mean by Cause and How Do We Reason from Experience?; What Do We Mean by Cause? II; Is It Rational to Be Guided by Experience?; What Is It to Believe that Something Is the Case?; Are Our Choices Free?; What Constitutes the Identity of a Person?; How Do Emotions Work?; The Mechanism of Sympathy; How to Make Moral Judgements; Is Religious Belief Rational?