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| Mark Collier > Courses > Problems from Hume | |
Phil 4000. Problems from HumeHistory of Philosophy Seminar Course Description: David Hume is widely regarded as the greatest philosopher to ever write in the English language. This course examines a number of the most influential philosophical problems that Hume raised concerning our theoretical beliefs about the world. Topics include: universals, induction, causation, laws of nature, miracles, intelligent design, and evil. We will also evaluate the various responses that contemporary analytic philosophers have offered to each of these problems. Requirements: Evaluation will be based upon class participation, short "position papers" (for each problem), and a final paper. Primary texts include Hume's Treatise and Enquiries. Additional readings will be available on e-reserve at the library. SCHEDULE OF CLASSES READINGS BY TOPIC: Problem #1: Universals Hume’s Treatise, T 1.1.7 H.H. Price:“Universals and Resemblances”, Chapter 1 of Thinking and Experience.D. D. Armstrong:“Resemblance Nominalism”, Chapter 3 of Universals: An Opinionated Introduction. G. Rodriguez-Pereyra:"Resemblance Nominalism" and "The Resemblance Structure of Property Classes", Chapters 4 and 7 of Resemblance Nominalism. Problem #2: Induction Hume’s First Enquiry, Sections 4 and 5 M. Black: “Self-Supporting Inductive Arguments” from The Justification of Induction R. Braithwaite: Chapter 8 from Scientific Explanation: A Study of the Function of Theory, Probability and Law in Science B. Russell: “On Induction”, Chapter 6 of Problems of Philosophy. P. Edwards: “Russell's Doubts About Induction”. W. Salmon: "Problem of Induction" P.F. Strawson: “Inductive Reasoning and Probability”, Chapter 9 of Introduction to Logic Introduction to Logical Theory. H. Reichenbach: "On the Justification of Induction", Journal of Philosophy 37 , 97-103 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Article: “Problem of Induction” Problem #3: Causation Hume’s Treatise, T 1.3.14 and T 1.3.15 G. Strawson, Hume's Realism. P. Kail: “Is Hume a Realist or an Anti-Realist?” in Blackwell Companion to Hume. J. Mackie: “Causes and Conditions”, Chapter 1 of Causation and Conditionals M. Scriven: "Defects of the Necessary Condition Analysis of Causation" D. Lewis: “Causation” P. Horwich: “Lewis's Program” Problem #4: Laws of Nature W. Kneale, “Natural Laws and Contrary-to-Fact Conditionals”, pp. 46-49 of Philosophical Problems of Causation. A.J. Ayer: “What is a law of nature?” pp. 77-90 of Philosophical Problems of Causation (Second Half Only) G. Molnar, “Kneale’s Argument Revisited”, pp. 106-114 of Philosophical Problems of Causation D. Armstrong: “Critique of Regularity Theory I: The Problem of Accidental Uniformities” and “Laws of Nature as Relations Between Universals” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Laws of Nature Problem #5: Miracles Hume’s First Enquiry, Section 10 J. Mackie: “Miracles and Testimony” Ch. 1 of The Miracle of Theism. R. Swinburne: “Arguments from History and Miracles”, Ch. 12 of Existence of God. J. Earman: Hume's Abject Failure, selections. R. Fogelin: “Two Recent Critics”, from A Defense of Hume on Miracles. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Miracles Problem #6: The Design Argument Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Parts II-VII R. Swinburne: “God, regularity, and David Hume” from Philosophy of Religion: a Guide and Anthology E. Sober: “The Design Argument” from God and Design: Teleological Argument and Modern Science R. Swinburne: “The Argument to God from fine-tuning reassessed” M. Rees: “Other Universes: A Scientific Perspective” D. Mellor: “Too Many Universes” Problem # 7: Evil Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Parts X and XI. N. Pike: “Hume on Evil”, Philosophical Review, April 1963, 72 (2): 180-197. W. Rowe: “The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism”, American Philosophical Quarterly, 16: 335-341. W. Rowe: “Evil and the Theistic Hypothesis: A Response to Wkystra”
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