Academic Skepticism in Hume and Kant: A Ciceronian Critique of Metaphysics

This book explores the influence of the New Platonic Academy on David Humes and Immanuel Kants critiques of metaphysics, showing how the skeptical teachings of the Academy affected their Enlightened attacks on traditional metaphysics. It bolsters the recognition that the revival of Pyrrhonism in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries did not give birth to Modern skepticism, and that Academic skepticism had a significant influence on Humes and Kants work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 26 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This groundbreaking book offers an unparalleled exploration of the profound influence exerted by the skepticism of the New Platonic Academy on the critiques of metaphysics by David Humes and Immanuel Kant. By unveiling the ways in which the skeptical doctrines of the Academy shaped these authors' Enlightened attacks on traditional metaphysics, this book not only deepens and expands the growing body of scholarship on the role played by ancient schools of skepticism in shaping modern skeptical outlooks but also reinforces the emerging understanding that we must reassess the conventional notion that the revival of Pyrrhonism in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries gave rise to modern skepticism.

In order to provide a fresh impetus to this line of inquiry, the author makes a compelling argument that Academic ideas and methods played a significant and hitherto unrecognized role in shaping Humes and Kant's critiques of metaphysics. Through a meticulous analysis of Hume's theory of belief in the Treatise and the first Enquiry, as well as its application in the Dialogues concerning Natural Religion, the author demonstrates the centrality of Academic skepticism to Hume's epistemology and critique of religion. Moreover, her analysis unveils how Kant's anti-metaphysical stance, developed in the Transcendental Dialectic of the Critique of Pure Reason, incorporates many skeptical insights of Academic inspiration, which were bequeathed to him by Hume.

By undertaking this comprehensive examination, the book not only sheds light on the intricate connections between skepticism and metaphysics but also contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the development of modern philosophical thought. It underscores the importance of reassessing our understanding of the historical roots of skepticism and its impact on the shaping of contemporary philosophical ideas. This work will be of great interest to scholars and students of philosophy, metaphysics, and the history of ideas, as it offers a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue between different philosophical traditions.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030897499
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022