"A Letter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hume David)

Concerning the Immateriality of the Soul (from which the
Argument is taken for its natural Immortality, or that it
cannot perish by Dissolution as the Body) he says,

"We certainly may conclude that Motion may be and actually
is the Cause of Thought and Perception: And no wonder, for
any Thing may be the Cause or Effect of any Thing; which
evidently gives the Advantage to the Materialists above
their Adversaries."

But yet more plainly,

"I assert, says he, that the Doctrine of the Immateriality,
Simplicity, and Indivisibility of a thinking Substance, is a true
Atheism, and will serve to justify all these Sentiments for which
Spinoza is so universally infamous."

This hideous Hypothesis is almost the same with that of the
Immateriality of the Soul, which has become so popular. And again he
endeavours to prove, that all the Absurdities which have been found in
the Systems of Spinoza, may likewise be discovered in that of the
Theologians: And concludes, that

"We cannot advance one Step towards the establishing the
Simplicity and Immateriality {14} of the Soul, without preparing
the Way for a dangerous and irrecoverable Atheism."

The Author's Sentiments in Morality we have in Vol. 3. printed
for T. Longman, 1740. He there tells us, that

"Reason has no Influence on our Passions and Actions:
Actions may be laudable or blameable, but they cannot be
reasonable or unreasonable. That all Beings in the
Universe, considered in themselves, appear entirely loose
and independent of each other; 'Tis only by Experience we
learn their Influence and Connection, and this Influence
we ought never to extend beyond Experience."

He takes great Pains to prove, from p.37. That Justice is not
a natural, but an artificial Virtue; and gives one pretty odd
Reason for it:

"We may conclude, that the Laws of Justice, being
universal and perfectly inflexible, can never be derived
from Nature. I suppose (says he) a Person to have lent me
a Sum of Money, on Condition that it be restored in a few
Days; and also suppose, that, after Expiration of the Term
agreed on, he demands the Sum: I ask, What Reason or
Motive have I to restore the Money? Publick Interest is