David Hume and Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary: “The perfection of our nature and capability of happiness, must be estimated by the degree of reason, virtue, and knowledge” (Wollstonecraft, 1792). But I wonder which of the three is most important?

David: Reason is the most important. Reason is how we obtain knowledge and through knowledge we are able to assess the meaning of virtue. I would go one step further to say that cause and effect is more important than reason. “All reasonings concerning matter of fact seem to be founded on the relation of Cause and Effect” (Hume, 1748). We can not count things as knowledge until we are certain they are a matter of fact; and without reason this would be impossible.

Mary: But I believe, “deeply rooted prejudices have clouded reason” (Wollstonecraft, 1792). How can one make decisions based on reason not prejudices?

David: Experience. “But to convince us that all the laws of nature, and all the operations of bodies without exception, are known only by experience” (Hume, 1748). Personal Experience is the only way one can truly understand the reason of something. If you take someone’s word instead of experiencing it yourself you are likely to make judgment based on prejudices and not by reason.

Bibliography:

Hume, David. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. (1748). Retrieved 21:07, October 15, 2007, from http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/david_hume/human_understanding.html

Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. (1792). Retrieved 21:10, October 18, 2007 from http://www.bartleby.com/144/