休莫是英國的一個天才。他當年年輕英俊,博學多才,曾當過幾個要人的秘書,不
僅具有哲學的才能,而且在文學,歷史等方面都多有著述,真是個出類拔萃的人。
記得當年我在的哲學系主任最喜歡的休莫的名言是( In the closing line of the
AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING he urges us to ask of any book):
“Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity of number?
No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact
and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing
but sophistry and illusion.”當他在課堂上讀出這一段時,其搖頭晃腦得意之情,
溢於言表,我至今還記憶猶新。