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Hume’s text
All sceptics pretend, that, if reason be considered in an abstract view,
it furnishes invincible arguments against itself; and that we could never
retain any conviction or assurance, on any subject, were not the sceptical
reasonings so refined and subtile, that they are not able to counterpoise
the more solid and more natural arguments derived from the senses and
experience. But it is evident, whenever our arguments lose this advantage,
and run wide of common life, that the most refined scepticism comes to be
upon a footing with them, and is able to oppose and counterbalance them.
Amended text
All sceptics claim that if reason is considered abstractly, it provides
invincible arguments against itself, and that we could never retain any
opinion or confidence on any subject if it were not that the sceptical
reasonings ·in which reason discredits itself· are so refined and subtle
that they cannot outweigh the more solid and more natural arguments derived
from the senses and experience. But it is obvious that when our arguments
lose this advantage ·of solidity and naturalness·, and run wide of everyday
life, the most refined scepticism comes to be on an equal footing with them
and can oppose and counterbalance them.
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