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The Hume Society is an international organization of scholars whose purpose is to stimulate scholarship on all aspects of the thought and writings of David Hume, the 18th-century Scottish philosopher, historian and essayist.
- About
Founded in 1974, the Hume Society is an international...
- Conferences
The Hume Society is pleased to announce that its 51st annual...
- Hume Studies
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- Scholarship
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- About
Founded in 1974, the Hume Society is an international organization of scholars from dozens of countries. Its purpose is to stimulate scholarship on all aspects of the thought and writings of David Hume, the 18th-century Scottish philosopher, historian and essayist.
- Early Life and Education
- A Treatise of Human Nature
- Essays and Enquiries
- History of England
- Paris Years
- Home to Edinburgh
Born in Edinburgh, Hume spent his childhood at Ninewells, the family’s modest estate on the Whitadder River in the border lowlands near Berwick. His father died just after David’s second birthday, “leaving me, with an elder brother and a sister under the care of our Mother, a woman of singular Merit, who, though young and handsome, devoted herself ...
The intensity of developing this philosophical vision precipitated a psychological crisis in the isolated scholar. Believing that “a more active scene of life” might improve his condition, Hume made “a very feeble trial” in the world of commerce, as a clerk for a Bristol sugar importer. The crisis passed and he remained intent on articulating his “...
Back at Ninewells, Hume published two modestly successful volumes of Essays, Moral and Politicalin 1741 and 1742. When the Chair of Ethics and Pneumatical (“Mental”) Philosophy at Edinburgh became vacant in 1745, Hume hoped to fill it, but his reputation provoked vocal and ultimately successful opposition. Six years later, he stood for the Chair of...
An offer to serve as Librarian to the Edinburgh Faculty of Advocates gave Hume the opportunity to work steadily on another project, a History of England, which was published in six volumes in 1754, 1756, 1759, and 1762. His Historybecame a best-seller, finally giving him the financial independence he had long sought. (Both the British Library and t...
In 1763, Hume accepted an invitation from Lord Hertford, the Ambassador to France, to serve as his Private Secretary. During his three years in Paris, Hume became Secretary to the Embassy and eventually its Chargè d’Affaires. He also become the rage of the Parisian salons, enjoying the conversation and company of Diderot, D’Alembert, and d’Holbach,...
After a year (1767-68) in London as an Under-Secretary of State, Hume returned to Edinburgh to stay in August, 1769. He built a house in Edinburgh’s New Town, and spent his autumnal years quietly and comfortably, dining and conversing with friends, not all of whom were “studious and literary,” for Hume also found that his “company was not unaccepta...
Feb 26, 2001 · In Section II, Hume argues that one reason we approve of benevolence, humanity, and public spiritedness is that they are useful to others and to society. In Sections III and IV, he argues that the sole ground for approving of justice and political allegiance is that they are useful to society.
Sep 26, 2024 · David Hume (born May 7 [April 26, Old Style], 1711, Edinburgh, Scotland—died August 25, 1776, Edinburgh) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism.
- David Hume was born on May 7 [April 26, Old Style], 1711.
- David Hume died on August 25, 1776.
- David Hume’s philosophical works included A Treatise of Human Nature (1739–40), An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751), An Enquiry C...
- David Hume is famous for the elegance of his prose, for his radical empiricism, for his skepticism of religion, for his critical account of causati...
Dec 14, 2007 · Hume goes on to argue that not only is necessity of this kind essential to human society, it is also “essential to religion and morality” (T 2.3.2.5 410), because of its relevance to the foundations of responsibility and punishment.
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Oct 29, 2004 · Hume’s position in ethics, which is based on his empiricist theory of the mind, is best known for asserting four theses: (1) Reason alone cannot be a motive to the will, but rather is the “slave of the passions” (see Section 3) (2) Moral distinctions are not derived from reason (see Section 4).
