"[16]
Hume develops the same fundamental conception in a somewhat different
way, and with a more definite indication of the practical benefits which
may be expected from a critical philosophy. The first and second parts
of the twelfth section of the _Inquiry_ are devoted to a condemnation of
excessive scepticism, or Pyrrhonism, with which Hume couples a
caricature of the Cartesian doubt; but, in the third part, a certain
"mitigated scepticism" is recommended and adopted, under the title of
"academical philosophy." After pointing out that a knowledge of the
infirmities of the human understanding, even in its most perfect state,
and when most accurate and cautious in its determinations, is the best
check upon the tendency to dogmatism, Hume continues:--
"Another species of _mitigated_ scepticism, which may be of
advantage to mankind, and which maybe the natural result of the
PYRRHONIAN doubts and scruples, is the limitation of our inquiries
to such subjects as are best adapted to the narrow capacity of
human understanding. The _imagination_ of man is naturally sublime,
delighted with whatever is remote and extraordinary, and running,
without control, into the most distant parts of space and time in
order to avoid the objects which custom has rendered too familiar
to it. A correct _judgment_ observes a contrary method, and,
avoiding all distant and high inquiries, confines itself to common
life, and to such subjects as fall under daily practice and
experience; leaving the more sublime topics to the embellishment of
poets and orators, or to the arts of priests and politicians.
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