Hume's Scepticism
Pyrrhonian and Academic
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Edinburgh University Press
Published:24th Oct '19
Should be back in stock very soon

This book provides a fresh perspective on Hume's scepticism, interpreting his work as fundamentally sceptical in nature. Hume's Scepticism challenges existing views.
In Hume's Scepticism, Peter S. Fosl presents a groundbreaking analysis of David Hume, positioning him as a profound sceptic across various domains such as epistemology, metaphysics, and doxastic frameworks. Fosl begins by situating Hume within the broader sceptical tradition, providing readers with a contextual understanding that enriches the interpretation of Hume's philosophical contributions. This historical grounding allows for a deeper appreciation of Hume's work and its implications for contemporary thought.
Fosl meticulously examines Hume's conceptual apparatus, delving into his major texts, including the Treatise, Enquiries, Essays, History, Dialogues, and letters. Through this detailed analysis, the author challenges prevailing interpretations of Hume's scepticism, arguing for a more radical understanding of his philosophical stance. By highlighting the nuances in Hume's arguments, Fosl encourages readers to reconsider their assumptions about Hume's views on knowledge and belief.
Ultimately, Hume's Scepticism not only sheds light on Hume's own philosophical inquiries but also prompts a reevaluation of the sceptical tradition itself. Fosl's work serves as a crucial resource for scholars and students alike, offering fresh insights into Hume's enduring legacy and the relevance of scepticism in contemporary philosophical discourse.
Peter Fosl’s Hume’s Scepticism is the culmination and most successful accomplishment of a research program in Hume’s scholarship started by Richard Popkin 80 years ago. -- Jose Maia Neto * Analytica *
Peter Fosl presents an engaging and historically rich account of Hume’s skepticism. For those readers interested in deepening their knowledge and understanding of Pyrrhonian and Academic skepticism, both in regard to their origins and their legacy, I highly recommend it. -- Stefanie Rocknak, Hartwick College * Journal of the History of Philosophy *
A remarkably comprehensive study about the impact of Pyrrhonian and Academic scepticism on David Hume’s philosophy … Using the most recent scholarship to discuss both textual influences and philosophical nuances among different sceptical views, Fosl provides a thorough history of scepticism on which scholars could build on the future … Fosl’s book is novel, provocative and opens up paths for various possible lines of research in the history of scepticism … Fosl has made a wonderful job of indicating some of the most relevant modern Academic sceptics’ affinities. In addition to the very substantial questions his work raises, Fosl deftly shows in his book that, as a sceptic through and through, Hume examined probabilities concerning issues of science, metaphysics and religion, and remained non-dogmatic in all of his philosophical conclusions. -- Catalina González, Universidad de los Andes * Sképsis: Revista de Filosofia *
No one else has gone as wide and as deep as Peter Fosl, who has taken a decisive stand on Hume as a radical sceptic. Nothing in philosophy is definitive, but this book will surely be a point of departure for studies of Hume's philosophy for a long time to come. -- John Christian Laursen, University of California, Riverside
ISBN: 9781474451123
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 742g
392 pages