21 JUN 2014 by ideonexus

 Commit Metaphysics to the Fire

If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, 'Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number?' No. 'Does it contain any experimental reasoning Duceming matter of fact and existence?' No. Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.
Folksonomies: pseudoscience
Folksonomies: pseudoscience
  1  notes
 
30 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 Reevaluating our Libraries

When we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what havoc must we make? If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.
Folksonomies: empiricism
Folksonomies: empiricism
  1  notes

Hume argues that any work that does not contain abstract mathematical reasoning or experimental research is nothing but "sophistry and illusion."