David Hume's "An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
I imagine the problem may be mine, but I found David Hume's writing virtually impenetrable. I wish someone would just fix the punctuation. I'm aware that punctuation styles vary over time but it strikes me that Hume never pondered a phrase that didn't merit a comma--or a thought that didn't require a semicolon. To wit:
"In later times, philosophy of all kinds, especially ethics, have been more closely united with theology than ever they were observed to be among the Heathens; and as this latter science admits of no terms of composition, but bends every branch of knowledge to its own purpose, without much regard to the phaenomena of nature, or to the unbiassed (sic) sentiments of the mind, hence reasoning, and even language, have been warped from their natural course, and distinctions have been endeavoured to be established, where the difference of the objects was, in a manner, imperceptible."
OK.
In addition to this, 106 pages to explain that morals are based on what's good for society (utilitarianism) seems a bit of overkill to me.
But again, perhaps the problem is mine.
"In later times, philosophy of all kinds, especially ethics, have been more closely united with theology than ever they were observed to be among the Heathens; and as this latter science admits of no terms of composition, but bends every branch of knowledge to its own purpose, without much regard to the phaenomena of nature, or to the unbiassed (sic) sentiments of the mind, hence reasoning, and even language, have been warped from their natural course, and distinctions have been endeavoured to be established, where the difference of the objects was, in a manner, imperceptible."
OK.
In addition to this, 106 pages to explain that morals are based on what's good for society (utilitarianism) seems a bit of overkill to me.
But again, perhaps the problem is mine.
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