Pragmatism, Empiricism and David Hume :: essays research papers

realism, Empiricism and David HumePragmatism is based on the philosophy that ideas must be tested and re-tested, that experiences bring down reality. Pragmatists excessively guess in no absolute truths or set existing. David Hume argues that, no proof slew be derived from any fact, of which we are so intimately conscious nor is there anything of which we can be certain, if we doubt this (Treatise 2645). Humes empiricist ideals were roots to early pragmatic thought, by way of the theory that, in our reality, nothing is certain and everything that can be sensed must be perpetu exclusivelyy qualified to find a place in reality.Humes position on our experiences deciding our veracity follows the school of reality by staying away from any conclusive ideals. Thus, his angle on empiricism melds with pragmatism on the level of determining ones selfs existence. Similar to Descartes, he explains that even, and more often than not as per constant perception, metaphysical experience can m old ones identity. And were all my perceptions removed by death . . . I should be entirely annihilated, nor do I conceive what is farther requisite to make me a faultless nonentity (2645). Based so heavily in perception, he boost deduces that when insensible during sleep and all perception of environment lies dormant, existence may halt (2645).Hume speculates most closely on miracles and opens his essay with the stance that, A miracle is a violation of the laws of reputation . . . the proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as entire as any argument from experience can possibly be imagined (Enquiry 2647). He continues throughout his essay, supporting his claim and also breaking down Christianity, highly-based in such phenomena, proving the impossibility of the existence of miracles. This purport is something a pragmatist would argue against, firmly believing in there organism nothing absolute. Yet, despite his resistance he concludes, whoever is moved by religious belief . . . is conscious of a continued miracle in his own person . . . and gives him a determination to believe what is most contrary to custom and experience (2650). This statement, although a bit contradictory to his thesis, appeases to pragmatist thought, allowing for an explanation to those who are still determined to believe in miracles and the like and allows for them to own an identity under his definition.It is at this land up where his level of pragmatism veers from Charles Peirce to William James end of the spectrum.