Projection and Realism in Hume's Philosophy

by P. J. E. Kail

Overview

In his writings, Hume talks of our 'gilding and staining' natural objects, and of the mind's propensity to 'spread itself' on the world. This has led commentators to use the metaphor of 'projection' in connection with his philosophy: Hume is held to have taught that causal power and self are projections, that God is a projection of our fear, and that value is a projection of sentiment. By considering what it is about Hume's writing that occasions this metaphor, P. J. E. Kail spells out its meaning, the role it plays in Hume's work, and examines how, if at all, what sounds 'projective' in Hume can be reconciled with what sounds 'realist'. In addition to offering some highly original readings of Hume's central ideas, Projection and Realism in Hume's Philosophy offers a detailed examination of the notion of projection and the problems it faces.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199575657
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/06/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Peter Kail is a University Lecturer in the History of Modern Philosophy at St Peter's College, University of Oxford.

Table of Contents

AcknowledgementsAbbreviationsIntroductionPart I: Religion and the External World1. Projection, Religion and the External World2. The Senses, Reason and the Imagination3. Realism, Meaning and Justification: The External World and Religious BeliefPart II: Modality, Projection and Realism4. 'Our Profound Ignorance': Causal Realism and the Failure to Detect Necessity5. Spreading the Mind: Projection and Necessity6. Into the Labyrinth: Persons, Modality and Hume's UndoingPart III: Value, Projection and Realism7. Gilding: Projection, Value and Secondary Qualities8. The Gold: Good, Evil, Belief and Desire9. The Golden: Relational Values, Realism and a Moral Sense

Editorial Reviews

"The detailed and clever textual analysis coupled with the originality and boldness of many of the core theses ensures that Kail's book will remain both an indispensable reference and a source of inspiration for the future scholarly activities of Hume specialists."—Angela Coventry, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

From the Publisher