an enquiry concerning human understanding · hume

David Hume's Enquiry of 1748 is the readable version of his empiricism: all ideas come from impressions, causation is a habit of expectation rather than a perceived necessity, and reason cannot justify induction. It includes the famous essay against miracles and ends by consigning metaphysics 'to the flames'.

David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, edited by Eric Steinberg (Hackett Publishing, 1993). Read over two sessions, Sophomore Spring at Torrey Honors: the Enquiry only.