Aesthetics and Morals in the Philosophy of David Hume

Aesthetics and Morals in the Philosophy of David Hume PDF Author: Timothy M Costelloe
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135197873
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description
The book has two aims. First, to examine the extent and significance of the connection between Hume's aesthetics and his moral philosophy; and, second, to consider how, in light of the connection, his moral philosophy answers central questions in ethics. The first aim is realized in chapters 1-4. Chapter 1 examines Hume's essay "Of the Standard of Taste" to understand his search for a "standard" and how this affects the scope of his aesthetics. Chapter 2 establishes that he treats beauty in nature and art and moral beauty as similar in kind, and applies the conclusions about his aesthetics to his moral thought. Chapter 3 solves a puzzle to which this gives rise, namely, how individuals both accept general standards that they also contravene in the course of aesthetic and moral activity. Chapter 4 takes up the normative aspect of Hume's approach by understanding moral character through his view of moral beauty. The second aim of the book is realized in chapters 5-7 by entertaining three objections against Hume's moral philosophy. First, if morality is an immediate reaction to the beauty of vice and the deformity of virtue, why is perfect virtue not the general condition of every human individual? Second, if morality consists of sentiments that arise in the subject, how can moral judgments be objective and claim universal validity? And third, if one can talk of "general standards" governing conduct, how does one account for the diversity of moral systems and their change over time? The first is answered by showing that like good taste in aesthetics, 'right taste' in morals requires that the sentiments are educated; the second, by arguing against the view that Hume is a subjectivist and a relativist, and the third (chapter 6), by showing that his approach contains a view of progress left untouched by any personal prejudices Hume himself might harbor. The book concludes in chapter 7 by showing how Hume's view of philosophy affects the scope of any normative ethics.

Aesthetics and Morals in the Philosophy of David Hume

Aesthetics and Morals in the Philosophy of David Hume PDF Author: Timothy M Costelloe
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135197873
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 162

Get Book Here

Book Description
The book has two aims. First, to examine the extent and significance of the connection between Hume's aesthetics and his moral philosophy; and, second, to consider how, in light of the connection, his moral philosophy answers central questions in ethics. The first aim is realized in chapters 1-4. Chapter 1 examines Hume's essay "Of the Standard of Taste" to understand his search for a "standard" and how this affects the scope of his aesthetics. Chapter 2 establishes that he treats beauty in nature and art and moral beauty as similar in kind, and applies the conclusions about his aesthetics to his moral thought. Chapter 3 solves a puzzle to which this gives rise, namely, how individuals both accept general standards that they also contravene in the course of aesthetic and moral activity. Chapter 4 takes up the normative aspect of Hume's approach by understanding moral character through his view of moral beauty. The second aim of the book is realized in chapters 5-7 by entertaining three objections against Hume's moral philosophy. First, if morality is an immediate reaction to the beauty of vice and the deformity of virtue, why is perfect virtue not the general condition of every human individual? Second, if morality consists of sentiments that arise in the subject, how can moral judgments be objective and claim universal validity? And third, if one can talk of "general standards" governing conduct, how does one account for the diversity of moral systems and their change over time? The first is answered by showing that like good taste in aesthetics, 'right taste' in morals requires that the sentiments are educated; the second, by arguing against the view that Hume is a subjectivist and a relativist, and the third (chapter 6), by showing that his approach contains a view of progress left untouched by any personal prejudices Hume himself might harbor. The book concludes in chapter 7 by showing how Hume's view of philosophy affects the scope of any normative ethics.

An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals PDF Author: David Hume
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Conduct of life
Languages : en
Pages : 202

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Book Description


Hume's Aesthetic Theory

Hume's Aesthetic Theory PDF Author: Dabney Townsend
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134568029
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 269

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Book Description
Hume's Aesthetic Theory examines the neglected area of the development of aesthetics in empiricist thinking, exploring the link between the empiricist background of aesthetics in the eighteenth century and the work of David Hume. This is a major contribution to our understanding of Hume's general philosophy and provides fresh insights into the history of aesthetics.

Mirrors to One Another

Mirrors to One Another PDF Author: E. M. Dadlez
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 9781444310405
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
A compelling exploration of the convergence of Jane Austen’sliterary themes and characters with David Hume’s views onmorality and human nature. Argues that the normative perspectives endorsed in JaneAusten's novels are best characterized in terms of a Humeanapproach, and that the merits of Hume's account of ethical,aesthetic and epistemic virtue are vividly illustrated by Austen'swriting. Illustrates how Hume and Austen complement one another, eachproviding a lens that allows us to expand and elaborate on theideas of the other Proposes that literature may serve as a thought experiment,articulating hypothetical cases which allow the reader to test hermoral intuitions Contributes to ongoing debates on the philosophy of literature,ethics, and emotion

Of the Standard of Taste

Of the Standard of Taste PDF Author: David Hume
Publisher: DigiCat
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 31

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Book Description
Of the Standard of Taste is a book by the philosopher David Hume. It argues for a standard measure of taste regarding art; while remembering the importance of subjectiveness.

Reading David Hume’s 'Of the Standard of Taste'

Reading David Hume’s 'Of the Standard of Taste' PDF Author: Babette Babich
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 311058557X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 342

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Book Description
This collection on the Standard of Taste offers a much needed resource for students and scholars of philosophical aesthetics, political reflection, value and judgments, economics, and art. The authors include experts in the philosophy of art, aesthetics, history of philosophy as well as the history of science. This much needed volume on David Hume will enrich scholars across all levels of university study and research.

Knowledge, Reason, and Taste

Knowledge, Reason, and Taste PDF Author: Paul Guyer
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691151172
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 281

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Book Description
Immanuel Kant famously said that he was awoken from his "dogmatic slumbers," and led to question the possibility of metaphysics, by David Hume's doubts about causation. Because of this, many philosophers have viewed Hume's influence on Kant as limited to metaphysics. More recently, some philosophers have questioned whether even Kant's metaphysics was really motivated by Hume. In Knowledge, Reason, and Taste, renowned Kant scholar Paul Guyer challenges both of these views. He argues that Kant's entire philosophy--including his moral philosophy, aesthetics, and teleology, as well as his metaphysics--can fruitfully be read as an engagement with Hume. In this book, the first to describe and assess Hume's influence throughout Kant's philosophy, Guyer shows where Kant agrees or disagrees with Hume, and where Kant does or doesn't appear to resolve Hume's doubts. In doing so, Guyer examines the progress both Kant and Hume made on enduring questions about causes, objects, selves, taste, moral principles and motivations, and purpose and design in nature. Finally, Guyer looks at questions Kant and Hume left open to their successors.

The Emergence of Modern Aesthetic Theory

The Emergence of Modern Aesthetic Theory PDF Author: Simon Grote
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107110920
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
This new study of eighteenth-century aesthetic theory situates it in theological contexts that are crucial to explaining why it arose.

Imagination in Hume's Philosophy

Imagination in Hume's Philosophy PDF Author: Timothy M. Costelloe
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
ISBN: 1474436412
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 329

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Book Description
Defines the cutting-edge of scholarship on ancient Greek history employing methods from social science.

Hume's Morality

Hume's Morality PDF Author: Rachel Cohon
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199268444
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
Rachel Cohon offers an original interpretation of the ethical thinking of the 18th-century philosopher David Hume. She focuses on two claims: that human beings figure out what is good or evil by using our feelings or emotions, and that some of the good traits we recognize are produced by informal social agreement and teaching.