13 quotes
Nature will always maintain her rights, and prevail in the end over any abstract reasoning whatsoever.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
No conclusions can be more agreeable to scepticism than such as make discoveries concerning the weakness and narrow limits of human reason and capacity.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
If we reason a priori, anything may appear able to produce anything.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
I have expos'd myself to the enmity of all metaphysicians, logicians, mathematicians, and even theologians; and can I wonder at the insults I must suffer?
THERE is no method of reasoning more common, and yet none more blameable, than, in philosophical disputes, to endeavour the refutation of any hypothesis, by a pretence of its dangerous consequences to religion and morality.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
There is a degree of doubt, and caution, and modesty, which, in all kinds of scrutiny and decision, ought for ever to accompany a just reasoner.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
All inferences from experience... are effects of custom, not of reasoning.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
Nature must have provided some other principle, of more ready, and more general use and application; nor can an operation of such immense consequence in life, as that of inferring effects from causes, be trusted to the uncertain process of reasoning and argumentation.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
The experimental reasoning itself, which we possess in common with beasts, and on which the whole conduct of life depends, is nothing but a species of instinct or mechanical power, that acts in us unknown to ourselves.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
The Cartesian doubt... were it ever possible to be attained by any human creature (as it plainly is not) would be entirely incurable; and no reasoning could ever bring us to a state of assurance and conviction upon any subject.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
There is no method of reasoning more common, and yet none more blameable, than in philosophical debates to endeavour to refute any hypothesis by a pretext of its dangerous consequences to religion and morality. When any opinion leads us into absurdities, 'tis certainly false; but 'tis not certain an opinion is false, because 'tis of dangerous consequence.
A Treatise of Human Nature (1739)
While we [philosophers] study with attention the vanity of life... we are, perhaps, all the while flattering our natural indolence, which, hating the bustle of the world, and drudgery of business, seeks a pretense of reason to give itself a full and uncontrolled indulgence.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
Besides that the ordinary course of nature may convince us, that almost everything is regulated by principles and maxims very different from ours; besides this, I say, it must evidently appear contrary to all rules of analogy, to reason from the intentions and projects of men, to those of a Being so different and so much superior.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)