1) One of the consistent lines of enquiry pursued by philosophers of the modern period is the epistemological foundation for the natural science Kant, indeed, indicates that much of his theoretical philosophy is an attempt to answer the problems which Hume posed in this respect. Explain the position of both philosophers on the status of science. What, according to each, allows us to say that the claims made by natural scientists can be genuinely known? What, in short, is Hume’s skeptical solution to the problem of science, and how does it compare to Kant’s transcendental idealist solution thereto?
All papers must include a thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph. As this is a comparative paper, I would expect you to take a stance on which of these philosophers you find more convincing. In this sense, a thesis might take the form of the following: “Given the respective merits of the two theories, I would side with Hume’s argument because…” The remainder of the essay is meant to provide evidence and rational support for the claim made in the thesis and should consequently address the relevant claims of both theories in detail. Each paper should also contain a concluding paragraph, wherein the argument is briefly restated and your stance is made clear.
When answering this prompt, be sure to ground your argument with the occasional reference to the texts in question. Any quotations are to be followed with the author’s last name and the referenced page number in parentheses. Each quote is not to exceed two lines of text. All references must be from the copy of the text that we used in class. Use of alternative copies or segments of the text that were not included in the distributed excerpt will not count as appropriate evidence or support.
Use of secondary sources in answering this paper is strictly prohibited. The paper must reflect your own original thoughts based on what we have read and discussed in class and nothing more. See “Academic Integrity” below. YOU CAN ONLY USE ATTACHED FILES. NO ONLINE SOURCES!
