"Nothing is more usual and more natural for those, who pretend to discover anything new to the world in philosophy and the sciences, than to insinuate the praises of their own systems, by decrying all those, which have been advanced before them. And indeed were they content with lamenting that ignorance, which we still lie under in the most important questions, that can come before the tribunal of human reason, there are few, who have an acquaintance with the sciences, that would not readily agree with them. 'Tis easy for one of judgment and learning, to perceive the weak foundation even of those systems, which have obtained the greatest credit, and have carried their pretensions highest to accurate and profound reasoning. Principles taken upon trust, consequences lamely deduced from them, want of coherence in the parts, and of evidence in the whole, these are every where to be met with in the systems of the most eminent philosophers, and seem to have drawn disgrace upon philosophy itself."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Atheism activistsPeople from EdinburghAcademics from ScotlandPhilosophers from ScotlandHistorians from Scotland
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Introduction
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/David_Hume
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
David Hume
1711 – 1776
schottischer Philosoph, Ökonom und Historiker
168 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by David Hume →
Related Quotes
"It cam’ wi’ a lass, it will gang wi’ a lass."
"All our obligations to do good to society seem to involve doing something in return: I get the benefits of society, s…"
"If suicide is a crime, only cowardice can drive us to it. If it is not a crime, both prudence and courage should lead…"
"Suicide can often be consistent with self-interest and with one’s duty to oneself; this can’t be questioned by anyone…"
"Observe, too, says Philo, the curious artifices of nature, in order to embitter the life of every living being. The s…"
"The whole earth, believe me ... is cursed and polluted. A perpetual war is kindled amongst all living creatures. Nece…"
"The first circumstance which introduces evil, is that contrivance or economy of the animal creation, by which pains, …"
"The conclusion [of the essay 'Of the Protestant Succession'] shows me a Whig, but a very sceptical one."
"The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster."
"With regard to politics and the character of princes and great men, I think I am very moderate. My views of things ar…"