Empiricists believe that our senses are the primary source of our knowledge. Rationalists counter that reason and rationality play an elementary, ineliminable role in attaining knowledge. This debate defines the era of modern philosophy (roughly from the 17th century to the early 20th century).  Out of these debates and the effort to create a philosophy compatible with the increasingly powerful sciences, emerges one of the giants of philosophy - Immanuel Kant. In this first episode of a two part series, we will be looking at the work of David Hume, setting up the framework for Kant to come on the scene. Skip ahead to 3:55 if you want politely bypass the opening ramble.