Hume, Kant and Reason Together, David Hume and Emanuel Kant have a crucial influence on modern philosophy. Hume challenges conventional philosophical views with his skepticism and his new interpretation of what metaphysics is. His views and ideas were influential to many, including Kant, however led to his philosophical reasoning and empiricism being viewed negatively and atheistically. Kant, whose philosophy was so strongly influenced by Hume that in his Prolegomena to any future metaphysics he wrote: “I freely confess that my recollection of David Hume was the very thing which many years ago first interrupted my dogmatic slumber and gave new investigations in the field of speculative philosophy a completely new direction” (Kant, Preference) defends and surpasses Hume by carrying forward philosophy in a revolutionary way. Kant's philosophy has its foundation in the work of Hume, particularly in his skeptical view on causality. David Hume was a strong advocate and practitioner of a scientific and empirical way of thinking which is reflected in his philosophy. His skeptical philosophy represented a 180-degree shift from the popular rational philosophy of the time period. Hume attempted to understand “human nature” through our behaviors and psychological models which, by analyzing Hume's work, one can clearly see its relationship to modern psychology. Hume believed that human behavior was influenced not by reason but by desire. He believed that “ambition, avarice, self-love, vanity, friendship, generosity, public spirit – these passions, mixed in various proportions and distributed throughout society, are now (and since beginning of the world have always been) the source of all actions and plans that have ever...... middle of paper ......xperience.Hume left behind a very controversial but necessary philosophy. His skeptical and empirical view of philosophy was something sorely needed in an era of philosophy dominated by rationality. His philosophy has many excellent points while some are too radical. Kant, who was greatly influenced by Hume's work, is one of the most enterprising and innovative philosophers. He uses Hume's work as a basis to construct a balanced philosophy by taking key components of both rational and Humean philosophy while tying up loose ends through his own theories as a synthetic a priori. Kant's philosophy clarifies, for many, Hume's loose ends, as well as overcoming some of Hume's more radical ideas. Hume's influences on Kant allow Kant to create a modern viewpoint and definition on how metaphysics, a priori knowledge, and human understanding are perceived.