hume's theory of belief：休姆的理论信仰.pdf

Hume’s Th eory o f Beli ef Michael M. Gorman Hume Studi es Volum e XIX, Num b er 1 (April, 1993) 89-102. Your use of the HUME STUDIE S a r chi v e i ndicates y o ur eptance of HUME ST UDIE S’ Te rm s and Conditions of Use, available at /about/ . HUME STUDIES’ Term s an d Con d ition s o f Use p r ov id es , i n p a rt, th at u n l ess you h a v e ob tain ed prior p e rm issio n , y o u m a y n o t down l o a d an en tire issu e of a jo urn a l or m u ltip le co p i es of articles, an d yo u m a y u s e co n t en t in t h e HU ME STUD I E S ar ch iv e on ly f o r your p e r s on al, n on- co mmer c ial u s e. Each c o py o f a n y pa rt of a H U M E ST U D IE S t r a n sm i ssi on m u st cont ai n t h e sam e copy ri ght n o t i ce t h at appea r s o n t h e screen o r pri n t e d page o f s u c h t r a n sm i ssi on. For m o re i n fo r m at i on o n HU M E STU D I ES cont act hum est udi es -i n f o @ h u m esoci e t y .or g h ttp :// c rg /h s/ ;i; Michael M. Gorman Belief is a key concept in Hume’s philosophy, and yet Hume’s statements about belief appear to be hopelessly inconsistent.’ Various solutions have been offered, from saying that Hume is incorrigibly confused to saying that his theory of belief changed over the course of his career. This article will focus on the question of the nature of belief and show that Hume’s theory is in fact consistent. In sections 1 and 2, I will separate those passages where Hume discusses the nature of belief from those where he discusses other questions. In sections 3-6, I will examine his theory of the nature of belief. Finally, in section 7, I will briefly look at his theories on other questions concerning belief. t / ; 1. Hume’s statements about belief can be divided into at least nine different categories. Hum