Hume famously argued that we have no reason to believe that the sun will rise tomorrow, or that the stone will fall when I release it from the top of the tower, or, in general, that the course of nature will continue the same. This lecture examines Hume’s argument, explains why it is so powerful, and considers Hume’s own attempt to avoid its drastically skeptical conclusion.
Michael Della Rocca, Sterling Professor of Philosophy is the 2025 recepient of the 2018 Harwodd F. Byrnes/Richard B. Sewall Teaching Prize, awarded to any faculty member who over a long period of service has inspired a great number of students and consistently fostered the learning process both inside and outside the classroom.
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