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Colloquium: Plinio Smith (Federal University of Sao Paulo)

Title: "The Unity of Hume's Skepticism" 

Professor Plinio Smith
Federal University of Sao Paulo

Interpreters of Hume have divided his philosophy into two parts. One could perhaps say that Hume's use of the copy principle, his philosophical analysis, his critique of rationalism, and his skeptical moments are all part of what has been seen as a negative and destructive part; and the use of the principles of the imagination, his psychological associationism, his empiricist science of Human Nature, and his naturalist moments are his positive and constructive part. In my view, any interpretation along these lines is wrong, for it is not correct to say that Hume's philosophy has two tasks carried out in two independent phases. I suggest that Hume realizes both tasks at the same time, or better, that the very same task is at once both negative and positive. I will try to show the unity of Hume's philosophy through four kinds of considerations. First, it will be examined the articulation of the copy principle and the principles of association. Then, it will be discussed whether there is an "analytic" moment distinct from a "synthetic" moment. Thirdly, I will go on to see whether Hume pursues two different tasks in two separate phases of his analysis, a negative one and a positive one. Next, the focus will be on the allegedly skeptical and naturalist moments or steps.