Episode #053 - David Hume Pt. 3
David Hume Part 3 - Custom
This episode examines David Hume’s deep skepticism about the soul, the self, and how we claim to know anything at all. Rather than denying the soul outright, Hume challenges the assumptions people attach to it—like immortality or identity—arguing that these ideas rest on shaky ground. He extends this skepticism to the concept of a fixed self, echoing ideas found in Buddhism. Ultimately, Hume calls for humility in our thinking, urging us to rely not on certainty but on repeated experience—what he calls “custom”—as the most reliable guide to understanding the world.
Further Reading:
Hume: A Very Short Introduction by A. J. Ayer (2000)
The Philosophy of David Hume by Norman Kemp Smith (2005)
The Pursuits of Philosophy: An Introduction to the Life and Thought of David Hume by Annette C. Baier (2011)
See the full transcript here.
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