Descrição
In this paper I consider some issues concerning Hume’s epistemology of testimony. I’ll particularly focus on the accusation of reductivism and individualism placed by scholars against Hume’s view on Testimonial evidence based on the 10th section of his Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. I will first explain the arguments against Hume position, and address some replies in the literature in order to offer an alternative interpretation concerning the way such a defense should go. My strategy is closely connected with Hume’s notion of virtue and the role it plays in his epistemology, mostly as it is presented in his Treatise of Human Nature. I’ll finally address the problem concerning how the aforementioned section of the Enquiry “Of Miracles”, must be properly understood, since several misunderstanding of Hume’s epistemology of testimony emerge partially from the particular character and aim of that section.||En este artículo, considero algunas cuestiones relacionadas con la epistemología del testimonio de David Hume. El eje central será la acusación de reductivismo e individualismo de los estudiosos en contra de la opinión de Hume sobre la evidencia testimonial. Dicha acusación se basa en su tratamiento de los reportes sobre hechos milagrosos, presente en la sección X de su Investigación sobre el entendimiento humano. En primer lugar, se abordan los argumentos en contra de la posición de Hume y algunas respuestas en la literatura reciente, para luego ofrecer una interpretación alternativa con respecto a la forma en que debería articularse esa defensa. Mi estrategia está estrechamente relacionada con la noción de virtud de Hume y el papel que desempeña en su epistemología, principalmente como se presenta en su Tratado de la naturaleza humana. Finalmente, abordaré el problema relacionado con la forma en que debe entenderse correctamente la sección “Of miracles” de la Investigación, ya que varios malentendidos sobre la epistemología del testimonio de Hume emergen parcialmente del carácter particular y el objetivo de dicho ensayo.||In this paper I consider some issues concerning Hume’s epistemology of testimony. I’ll particularly focus on the accusation of reductivism and individualism placed by scholars against Hume’s view on Testimonial evidence based on the 10th section of his Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. I will first explain the arguments against Hume position, and address some replies in the literature in order to offer an alternative interpretation concerning the way such a defense should go. My strategy is closely connected with Hume’s notion of virtue and the role it plays in his epistemology, mostly as it is presented in his Treatise of Human Nature. I’ll finally address the problem concerning how the aforementioned section of the Enquiry “Of Miracles”, must be properly understood, since several misunderstanding of Hume’s epistemology of testimony emerge partially from the particular character and aim of that section.
Recebido: 05/10/2015Aceito: 17/05/2017
