"Hume, David - Letter to a friend in Edinburgh [PG]" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hume David)

He gives us the summary View of his Philosophy from p. 458. to
470. --

"I am confounded with that forlorn Solitude, in which I am
placed in my Philosophy. {5} -- I have exposed myself to the
Enmity of all Metaphysicians, Logicians, Mathematicians, and
even Theologians. -- I have declared my Disapprobations of
their Systems. -- When I turn my Eye inward, I find nothing
but Doubt and Ignorance. All the World conspires to oppose and
contradict me; tho' such is my Weakness, that I feel all my
Opinions loosen and fall of themselves, when unsupported by
the Approbation of others. -- Can I be sure, that, in leaving
all established Opinions, I am following Truth? and by what
Criterion shall I distinguish her, even if Fortune should at
last guide me on her Footsteps? After the most accurate and
exact of my Reasonings, I can give no Reason why I should
assent to it; and feel nothing but a strong Propensity to
consider Objects strongly in that View under which they appear
to me. -- The Memory, Senses, and Understanding, are all of
them founded on the Imagination. -- No Wonder a Principle so
inconstant and fallacious should lead us into Errors, when
implicitely followed (as it must be) in all its Variations. --
I have already shown, that the Understanding, when it acts
alone, and according to its most general Principles, entirely
subverts itself, and leaves {6} not the lowest Degree of
Evidence in any Proposition either in Philosophy or common
Life. -- We have no Choice left, but betwixt a false Reason
and none at all. -- Where am I, or what? From what Causes do I
derive my Existence, and to what Condition shall I return?
Whose Favour shall I court, and whose Anger must I dread? What
Beings surround me? On whom have I any Influence, or who have
any Influence on me? I am confounded with all these Questions,
and begin to fancy myself in the most deplorable Condition
imaginable, invironed with the deepest Darkness, and utterly
deprived of the Use of every Member and Faculty. -- If I must
be a Fool, as all those who reason or believe any Thing
certainly are, my Follies shall at least be natural and
agreeable. -- In all the Incidents of Life, we ought still to
preserve our Scepticism: If we believe that Fire warms, or
Water refreshes, 'tis only because it costs us too much Pains
to think otherwise; nay, if we are Philosophers, it ought only
to be upon sceptical Principles. -- I cannot forbear having a
Curiosity to be acquainted with the Principles of moral Good
and Evil, &c. I am concerned for he Condition of the learned
World, which lies under such a deplorable {7} Ignorance in all
these Particulars. I feel an Ambition arise in me of
contributing to the Instruction of Mankind, and of acquiring a
Name by my Inventions and Discoveries. -- Should I endeavour
to banish these Sentiments, I feel I should be a Loser in