Inspired by reading of David Hume's Enquiry concerning the principles of Morals (EPM) edited by Tom L. Beauchamp.1 "Hume is often interpreted as arguing that no value judgment--however extreme, obscene, or cruel--is reasonable or unreasonable, just as no value judgment is factual. This interpretation needs careful assessment. A passion is 'unreasonable' for Hume not because the passion is inappropriate, as we suggest today when we say, 'It was unreasonable of him to be angry', but because the passion is based on an erroneous judgment, as when we say, 'It is unreasonable to have a desire to do what is impossible'. For example, if I desire to see my dead grandfather at a restaurant tonight and this desire together with my peculiar belief that he will be there lead me to go to the restaurant, my desire is unreasonable because the judgment that he is alive and will be at the restaurant is unreasonable. Hume thinks that the judgment, not the desire, is unreasonable."(Ibid. 47)
Motivation, reason, the impossible
Motivation, reason, the impossible
Motivation, reason, the impossible
Inspired by reading of David Hume's Enquiry concerning the principles of Morals (EPM) edited by Tom L. Beauchamp.1 "Hume is often interpreted as arguing that no value judgment--however extreme, obscene, or cruel--is reasonable or unreasonable, just as no value judgment is factual. This interpretation needs careful assessment. A passion is 'unreasonable' for Hume not because the passion is inappropriate, as we suggest today when we say, 'It was unreasonable of him to be angry', but because the passion is based on an erroneous judgment, as when we say, 'It is unreasonable to have a desire to do what is impossible'. For example, if I desire to see my dead grandfather at a restaurant tonight and this desire together with my peculiar belief that he will be there lead me to go to the restaurant, my desire is unreasonable because the judgment that he is alive and will be at the restaurant is unreasonable. Hume thinks that the judgment, not the desire, is unreasonable."(Ibid. 47)