Book description
Philosophy for busy people. Read a succinct account of the philosophy
of Hume in just one hour.
Hume reduced philosophy to ruins, denying the existence of everything
except our actual perceptions themselves. The world is nothing more than
part of my consciousness. Yet we know the world remains, and we go on as
before. What Hume expressed was the status of our knowledge about the
world - a world in which neither religion nor science is certain.
Here is a concise, expert account of Hume's life and philosophical ideas
- entertainingly written and easy to understand. Also included are
selections from Hume's work, suggested further reading, and chronologies
that place Hume in the context of the broader scheme of philosophy.
'Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them . .
.I find them hard to stop reading.' New York Times
'Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise' Wall Street Journal
'Each of these little books is witty and dramatic and creates a sense of
time, place, and character . . . I cannot think of a better way to
introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization.' Boston Globe
'A godsend in this era of the short attention span.' New York Times
Paul Strathern has lectured in philosophy and mathematics and now lives
and writes in London. A Somerset Maugham prize winner, he is also the
author of books on history and travel as well as five novels. His
articles have appeared in a great many publications including the
Observer (London) and the Irish Times. His own degree in philosophy was
earned at Trinity College, Dublin.
