...when we do not so much as understand the meaning of the question?.... SEC. VI. Of Personal Identity There are some philosophers, who imagine we are every...demonstration, both of its perfect identity and simplicity. The strongest sensation, the most violent passion, say they, instead of distracting us from this view,...

...A Treatise on Human Nature noted more than 150 years ago that some philosophers "imagine we are at every moment intimately conscious of what we call our SELF; that we feel its existence; and are certain, beyond the evidence of a demonstration, both of its perfect identity and simplicity" ((1739-1740]...

...thing that persists throughout our lives. He said: There are some philosophers who imagine we are at every moment intimately conscious of what we call our self, that we feel its existence and continuance in existence and are certain, beyond the evidence of a demonstration of both its perfect...

...evanescent and ephemeral selfhood in the section on personal identity in A Treatise of Human Nature: There are some philosophers who imagine we are every...assertions are contrary to that very experience which pleaded for them; nor have we any idea of self, after the manner it is here explained. For from what...

...belief that nothing is more immediate in awareness or so well known as the self. As David Hume observed, "There are some philosophers, who imagine we are every...a demonstration, both of its perfect identity and simplicity."1 Hume almost certainly had the likes of Descartes in mind as he wrote this passage. For...

...simplicity that Descartes had embedded in the concept of self: There are some philosophers, who imagine that we are every moment intimately conscious of what we call our SELF; that we feel its existence and continuation in existence; and are certain, beyond the evidence of a demonstration; both of its perfect...

...immutable self. Hume states the opposition's case as follows: There are some philosophers, who imagine that we are every moment intimately conscious of what we...demonstration, both of its perfect identity and simplicity. The strongest sensation, the most violent passion, say they, instead of distracting us from this view,...

...thinking thing' (Res cogitans). Hume speaks rather scornfully of those philosophers who imagine that we are every moment intimately conscious of what we...demonstration, both of its perfect identity and simplicity. 2 Hume declares that he is not aware of any such thing: For my part, when I enter most intimately into...

...accountability? 190 SELECTION FROM HUME A Treatise of Human Nature, Book 1, Part 4, Section 6: Personal Identity There are some philosophers who imagine we are every...are certain, beyond the evidence of a demonstration, of both its perfect identity and simplicity. The strongest sensation, the most violent passion, they...

...Text 1. THE SELF AND THE EMPIRICIST PRINCIPLE (PARAGRAPHS 1-2) Hume begins Section VI with the remark: "There are some philosophers, who imagine we are every...moment intimately conscious of what we call our SELF" (25i). According to these philosophers, "[We] are certain . . . both of [the self's] perfect identity...