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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Hume's uses of dialogue
AU - Clark, Sam
N1 - Date of acceptance: 19/09/2013
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - What does David Hume do with the dialogue form in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion? I pursue this question in the context of a partial taxonomy of uses for dialogue in philosophy in general, and distinguish uses out of playfulness; for self-concealment; to tame opponents; for self-effacement; for causal operation; for self-discovery; and for dramatising a political ideal. I argue for Hume’s use of the last two, and investigate the expressions of selfhood and politics which these uses reveal in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion: the self is multiple; sociable pleasure in company is more important than winning arguments or gaining knowledge. These performative readings of Dialogues reveal Hume as aiming to transform our individual and collective self-understanding and action, and propose a more political engagement with his thought generally.
AB - What does David Hume do with the dialogue form in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion? I pursue this question in the context of a partial taxonomy of uses for dialogue in philosophy in general, and distinguish uses out of playfulness; for self-concealment; to tame opponents; for self-effacement; for causal operation; for self-discovery; and for dramatising a political ideal. I argue for Hume’s use of the last two, and investigate the expressions of selfhood and politics which these uses reveal in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion: the self is multiple; sociable pleasure in company is more important than winning arguments or gaining knowledge. These performative readings of Dialogues reveal Hume as aiming to transform our individual and collective self-understanding and action, and propose a more political engagement with his thought generally.
KW - David Hume
KW - dialogue
KW - Philosophy
KW - Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
KW - the self
M3 - Journal article
VL - 39
SP - 61
EP - 76
JO - Hume Studies
JF - Hume Studies
SN - 0319-7336
IS - 1
ER -