Hume’s Theory Of Sympathy

Sympathy is not only a common phenomenon in our daily life,but also an important subject in philosophical research.In Western philosophy,Hume has done much profound work in exploring problems regarding sympathy,which made him hold a special place in the history of the study of sympathy.Based on a detailed study of Hume’s works related to sympathy,this dissertation aims to construct Hume’s theory of sympathy systematically,respond to the related objections to it,and manifest its status and role in Hume’s science of human nature and its far-reaching impact in the contemporary era.Firstly,based on the investigation about the historical development of the concept of sympathy,this dissertation clarifies the different meanings of the sympathy concept and manifests Hume’s position in the history.In the light of the division of stage from ancient to modern and contemporary and the use of sympathy by different philosophers,I will first examine the historical development of the concept of sympathy,and then divide it into two levels and indicate its three different kinds of use: first is the use of sympathy at the(natural)metaphysical level,which means it is used to explain the coordination and harmony between the natural and spiritual worlds(including body and mind);second is the use of sympathy at the ethical level in a broad sense,which treats sympathy as a general psychological mechanism that could transfer various types of feelings and emotions;third is the use of sympathy at the ethical level in a narrow sense,which equals sympathy to the certain emotion of compassion for others.On the basis of such historical investigation,I will also analyze how the historical background,especially the social culture and philosophical research,would deeply impact Hume and lead him to a special understanding of sympathy and put him to a special place in the history of the study of sympathy.Secondly,this dissertation systematically constructs Hume’s theory of sympathy.This construction is based on the clarification of Hume’s understanding of sympathy,which would manifest the concept of sympathy in Hume’s philosophy including two aspects,that is,sympathy is not only could be treat as a psychological mechanism but also a psychological activity.In the aspect of psychological mechanism,I will point out that the sympathy Hume used is at the ethical level in a broad sense,which means it could convey the mental contents of others,and then explain the process,basis andfunction of this mechanism in detail.In the aspect of psychological activity,I will distinguish two types of sympathetic activities,namely the limited sympathy and extensive sympathy,and then focus on the relationship between these two sympathetic activities,especially the transition from limited sympathy to broad sympathy.When analyzing such transition,I will also inquire the role of other principles or abilities in human nature,such as reason and imagination play in sympathetic activities,and this would be helpful for us to understand the essence of sympathy in Hume’s philosophy more deeply and accurately.On the basis of such investigation above,I will finally summary the characteristics of Hume’s theory of sympathy,pointing out that it has the features of empiricism,humanist,associationism,sentimentalism and naturalism,and then respond to objections to the foundation and validity of Hume’s theory of sympathy based these features.Thirdly,based on the systematicness of Hume’s theory of sympathy,this dissertation manifests its position and role in Hume’s entire philosophical system.Such manifestation is founded on the distinction of Hume’s plan of the science of human nature into two levels,namely the level of investigation and of application.At the level of investigation,I will examines the relationship between sympathy and understanding and passions,indicate that sympathy could play a complementary role to the understanding and passions: in the field of understanding,sympathy could not only confirm the beliefs of understanding but extend the function of imagination from understanding to passions;in the field of passions,sympathy could explain the generation and transfer of a series of certain passions,and be the foundation of other important human principles(such as the comparison principle)in the field of passions.At the level of application level,I will manifest the role of sympathy in the fields of ethics,politics and aesthetics: in the field of ethics,sympathy is not only the foundation for us to distinguish the moral good and make the moral judgments,but also the basis of artificial virtue(such as justice)and natural virtue(such as benevolence);in the field of politics,as the formation and functioning of the feeling of common interest could not be separated from sympathetic activities,the generation and maintenance of the rules of justice must be based on sympathy;besides,in the field of aesthetics,the generation of beauty,the making of aesthetic judgment,the establishment of aesthetic taste standards and enjoyment of tragedies,are also dependent on sympathy.Finally,this dissertation analyzes the impact of Hume’s theory of sympathy tocontemporary psychology and ethics.To the contemporary psychology,I will first point out that as a psychological mechanism conveying the mental content of others,Hume’s sympathy is related to the problem of other minds,and provides a unique and inspiring model of mind-reading.And then,I will indicate that because Hume emphasizes sympathy is the means of conveying passions which has a very important effect to our will and behaviors,his theory of sympathy also has profound influences to contemporary moral psychology.To the contemporary ethics,I will first manifest that Hume’s theory of sympathy is an important theoretical resource for the moral sentimentalism to reflect the normative ethics and virtue ethics in modern times,and then show how the scholars today apply it to a series of moral issues such as the study of animal ethics,the comparative studies of Chinese and Western ethics,and the establishment of universal ethics,which has advanced the related study while reviving Hume’s theory of sympathy in the contemporary era.