philosophy bites

Alison Gopnik on Hume and Buddhism

In his Treatise (Book 1, Part 4, sec. 6) David Hume suggested that the idea of an enduring discoverable self was unfounded. Introspection revealed 'nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions, which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity, and are in a perpetual flux and movement.' Many people have noticed the similarity between Hume's position here and Buddhist discussion of the self. Alison Gopnik has discovered a possible route of influence.

Listen to Alison Gopnik on Hume and Buddhism

Read Alison Gopnik's paper 'Could David Hume have known about Buddhism?' (pdf)

Listen to an earlier Philosophy Bites interview with Alison Gopnik on the Imagination

Alison Gopnik's TED talk 'What Do Babies Think? (video)

There are reliable versions of David Hume's philosophical texts, (and reproduction of Hume's own manuscript of his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion) at www.davidhume.org 

 

Michael Martin on Hume on Taste

David Hume's 'Of the Standard of Taste' addresses the question of whether we can, with any authority,  judge one writer to be genuinely better than another. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Mike Martin gives a clear analysis of that essay. 

Listen to Mike Martin on Hume on Taste

You can read David Hume's 'Of the Standard of Taste' here (click on the white triangle in the red box on the right hand side of the screen, select 'Contents' from the drop down menu, and then scroll down to Essay XXVl).

Pat Churchland on What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Morality

Can science teach us anything about morality? Are facts and values two separate realms? Patricia Churchland discusses what neuroscience can teach us about morality in this episode which was originally released on Bioethics Bites. Bioethics Bites is made in association with the Uehiro Centre and with a grant from the Wellcome Institute.

Listen to Patricia Churchland on What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Morality

Listen to an earlier Philosophy Bites interview with Pat Churchland on Eliminative Materialism

  

Paul Russell on David Hume's Philosophy of Irreligion

To celebrate David Hume's 300th Birthday we are releasing this bonus episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. On the standard reading of Hume's Treatise, this important book reveals its author both as a sceptic and as someone wanting to contribute positive ideas about human nature. These two aspects of the book seem to be in tension. Paul Russell suggests a way of solving the riddle of the Treatise. He emphasizes David Hume's irreligion and how it pervades every aspect of Hume's first book.

Listen to Paul Russell on David Hume's Philosophy of Irreligion 

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

Previous Philosophy Bites interviews on David Hume:

Listen to Peter Millican on Hume's Significance

Listen to Stewart Sutherland on Hume on Design

A range of Open University podcasts on David Hume (with transcripts) is available here

Peter Millican on Hume's Significance

David Hume is one of the great philosophers. For this episode of Philosophy Bites, Hume expert Peter Millican explains his significance. He also provides textual evidence for Hume's atheism.

Listen to Peter Millican on Hume's Significance

Peter Millican's Papers and Talks on David Hume

Peter Millican's survey of writing on Hume  (with numerous links)

Stewart Sutherland on Hume on Design

Is there evidence of intelligent design in the Universe? In the Eighteenth Century David Hume presented a series of powerful arguments against the Argument from Design.  Stewart Sutherland, Provost of Gresham College,  outlines these arguments and demonstrates their continuing relevance.

Listen to Stewart Sutherland on Hume on Design