Hume: Philosophy in an Hour

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.

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About the author

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.