David Hume
David Hume was born on the 7th of May 1711 in a tenement building located on the north side of Edinburgh's Lawnmarket. He entered the University of Edinburgh at an unusually early age, possibly as young as 10 years old when 14 was typical for students of that era. His family background provided little financial security since his father Joseph Home died shortly after David turned two. Catherine Falconer raised her three children alone without remarriage while living in Chirnside, Berwickshire. The younger son received very slender finances and had to rely on his own talents rather than inherited wealth. Hume initially considered studying law due to family expectations but soon developed an insurmountable aversion to legal texts like Voet and Vinnius. Instead he secretly devoured Cicero and Virgil while pretending to study jurisprudence with professors who taught nothing beyond what could be found in books.
At around age 18 Hume experienced a profound mental crisis that threatened to destroy his ability to continue philosophical work. This condition began with a coldness he attributed to a Laziness of Temper lasting approximately nine months before physical symptoms appeared. Scurvy spots broke out on his fingers leading his physician to diagnose him with the Disease of the Learned. Treatment involved courses of Bitters and Anti-Hysteric Pills taken alongside daily consumption of a pint of claret wine. He adopted a more active lifestyle to improve his health while maintaining his intellectual pursuits. After eating well for some time he transformed from being tall lean and raw-bon'd into someone sturdy robust and healthful-like. This recovery allowed him to pursue reading and writing for at least ten years despite earlier fears of permanent disability. His later life would show him as obese with fondness for good port and cheese often used as metaphors in his philosophical conjectures.
By age 25 Hume had no source of income or learned profession despite noble ancestry so he became a merchant's assistant leaving Scotland for France. He traveled via Bristol to La Flèche where he frequently discussed ideas with Jesuits at their college library. Attempts to secure academic positions failed due to protests over alleged atheism including rejection for the Chair of Pneumatics and Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University. William Cleghorn received the position after ministers petitioned the town council against appointing Hume. His first major work A Treatise of Human Nature fell dead-born from the press according to his own description. Critics described it as abstract and unintelligible while many scholars now consider it one of the most important books in Western philosophy. Despite spending most savings during four years of writing he resolved to make rigid frugality supply deficiency of fortune. He published an Abstract without revealing authorship containing same ideas but shorter clearer explanation hoping to reach wider audience. Eventually fame came through The History of England which ran to over a million words becoming definitive history of England for over sixty years.
Hume divided all perceptions of human mind into two distinct kinds called impressions and ideas based on force liveliness and vivacity. Impressions represent original forms of experience such as feeling pain when touching hot pan handle whereas ideas are faint copies derived from those impressions. Simple perceptions admit no distinction nor separation while complex ones may be distinguished into parts like color sensations taste sensations tactile sensations smell sensations experienced when biting apple. Imagination recombines information already acquired from body's sensory experience leading to new ideas through three principles: resemblance contiguity cause and effect. Resemblance refers tendency of ideas become associated if objects they represent resemble each other. Contiguity describes tendency of ideas become associated if objects represented near time or space. Cause and effect explains how remembering broken window makes someone think ball caused shattering. Custom renders experience useful making us expect future similar train events appeared past even though nature might stop being regular. Hume argued only pure realm ideas logic mathematics independent direct sense awareness reality allows causation safely applied reducing sciences probability.
Hume denied existence practical reason claiming reason utterly impotent creating effects morality capable producing actions alone cannot create. Morals excite passions produce prevent actions rules morality conclusions our reason according Treatise Human Nature 1740. Reason less significant passion because reason has no original influence while passion an original existence modification existence. Practical reason concerned value actions rather truth propositions so shortcoming affecting morality proved practical reason authoritative rational beings since morality essential dictating intentions actions. Hume famously stated Reason is ought only slave passions never pretend any office serve obey them. His moral sentimentalism shared close friend Adam Smith mutually influenced older contemporary Francis Hutcheson. Peter Singer claims argument morals cannot rational basis alone earned place history ethics. Is-ought problem later known Hume's Law denying possibility logically deriving what ought from what is. Every system morality author begins stating facts world ends suddenly referring what ought case demanding reason inferring what ought from what is inconceivable relation deduction others. Theory ethics influential modern meta-ethical theory inspiring emotivism ethical expressivism non-cognitivism Allan Gibbard general theory moral judgement judgements rationality.
Contemporaries considered Hume atheist un-Christian enough Church Scotland seriously consider bringing charges infidelity against him. Evidence unChristian beliefs especially found writings miracles attempting separate historical method narrative accounts miracles. Best theologian ever met old Edinburgh fishwife recognized him as Hume atheist refused pull bog until declared Christian repeated Lord prayer. Works like Of Superstition and Enthusiasm specifically support standard religious views time place yet critical Catholic Church dismissing idolatry superstition compatriots saw uncivilized beliefs extreme Protestant sects called enthusiasts corrupters religion. Natural History Religion argues monotheistic religions Judaism Christianity Islam derive earlier polytheistic religions suggesting all religious belief traces end dread unknown. Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion 1779 proposed finite universe infinite particles randomly fall arrangement including seemingly designed world. A century later Charles Darwin discovery adaptations forms life result natural selection inherited characteristics rendered idea order design plausible. James D Madden states Hume rivaled only Darwin done most undermine principle confidence arguments design Western intellectual tradition. Philo suggests many worlds botched bungled eternity system struck out much labor lost fruitless incompetent designer stupid mechanic.
Immanuel Kant credited Hume inspiration awakened dogmatic slumbers affecting utilitarianism logical positivism philosophy science early analytic philosophy cognitive science theology fields thinkers. Until recently seen forerunner logical positivism form anti-metaphysical empiricism unless statement verified experience true false definition tautological contradictory meaningless proto-positivist demonstrated ways ordinary propositions objects causal relations self semantically equivalent propositions experiences. Many commentators since rejected understanding emphasizing epistemological rather semantic reading project consisting knowledge ability conceive restricted experienced. Beliefs extend beyond possible experience through operation faculties custom imagination skeptical claims knowledge basis. Bundle theory personal identity mind simply bundle perceptions unity cohesive quality nothing but bundle experiences linked relations causation resemblance empirically warranted idea self just idea such bundle. Derek Parfit advanced modern-day version Reasons Persons Galen Strawson queried whether view really Hume answering ontological question epistemological question causal origin concept self. Dissatisfied earlier account personal identity Book 1 Appendix declares problem nature forthcoming about nature commentators agree if found new problem wasn't forthcoming about its nature James Giles argues not arguing bundle theory reductionism eliminative view self rejecting idea self altogether no-self theory common Buddhist thought anattā Alison Gopnik argued position learn Buddhist thought time France 1730s.
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Common questions
When and where was David Hume born?
David Hume was born on the 7th of May 1711 in a tenement building located on the north side of Edinburgh's Lawnmarket. He entered the University of Edinburgh at an unusually early age, possibly as young as 10 years old when 14 was typical for students of that era.
What health crisis did David Hume experience around age 18?
At around age 18 David Hume experienced a profound mental crisis attributed to a Laziness of Temper lasting approximately nine months before physical symptoms appeared. Scurvy spots broke out on his fingers leading his physician to diagnose him with the Disease of the Learned which required treatment involving courses of Bitters and Anti-Hysteric Pills taken alongside daily consumption of a pint of claret wine.
Why did David Hume fail to secure academic positions in Scotland?
Attempts to secure academic positions failed due to protests over alleged atheism including rejection for the Chair of Pneumatics and Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University. William Cleghorn received the position after ministers petitioned the town council against appointing David Hume.
How does David Hume define impressions and ideas in human perception?
David Hume divided all perceptions of human mind into two distinct kinds called impressions and ideas based on force liveliness and vivacity. Impressions represent original forms of experience such as feeling pain when touching hot pan handle whereas ideas are faint copies derived from those impressions.
What is the significance of David Hume's Is-ought problem?
The Is-ought problem later known as Hume's Law denies possibility logically deriving what ought from what is. Every system morality author begins stating facts world ends suddenly referring what ought case demanding reason inferring what ought from what is inconceivable relation deduction others.
Who credited David Hume with inspiring modern philosophy and science fields?
Immanuel Kant credited David Hume inspiration awakened dogmatic slumbers affecting utilitarianism logical positivism philosophy science early analytic philosophy cognitive science theology fields thinkers. Many commentators since rejected understanding emphasizing epistemological rather semantic reading project consisting knowledge ability conceive restricted experienced.
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100 references cited across the entry
- 1encyclopediaFoundationalist Theories of Epistemic JustificationFumerton, Richard — 21 February 2000
- 2bookDavid Hume and the culture of Scottish Newtonianism : methodology and ideology in Enlightenment inquiryTamás Demeter — Brill — 2016
- 4bookThe Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyMarian David — Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University — 3 October 2018
- 6bookThe Roots of RomanticismIsaiah Berlin — Princeton University Press — 2013
- 7encyclopediaHume on Free WillMetaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University — 2016
- 10journalDavid Hume and the 'Disease of the Learned' – psychiatry in philosophyMatthew Butler — 2020-08-28
- 11citationDisease of the LearnedErnest Campbell Mossner — Oxford University Press — 2001-02-22
- 12bookHumeThomas Henry Huxley — Cambridge University Press — 2011
- 13journalHume at La Flèche: Skepticism and the French ConnectionDario Perinetti — 2018
- 14bookHistory and the EnlightenmentHugh Trevor-Roper — Yale University Press — 2010
- 16harvnbHume, 1888b
- 22journalHume and Isaac de PintoPopkin, Richard H. — 1970
- 24newsReview: An Enlightened Friendship Between 'The Infidel and the Professor'Ruth Scurr — 2017-11-03
- 26webDavid Hume was a brilliant philosopher but also a racist involved in slaveryFelix Waldmann — 17 July 2020
- 27journalDavid Hume – An ApologiaDavid Ashton et al. — 2023
- 28journalHume on Race and SlaveryAlan Bailey — 2024
- 29webEdinburgh University rush to condemn David Hume shames itDavid Ashton et al. — 28 December 2023
- 30journalA response to Kendra AsherJames F. Fieser — 2022
- 31journalDavid Hume and the Politics of SlaveryDanielle Charette — 20 March 2023
- 32journalHume's Revised RacismJohn Immerwahr — 1992
- 33citationDavid Hume on RaceAaron Garrett et al. — Oxford University Press — 2017
- 36bookBiographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002The Royal Society of Edinburgh — 2006
- 39journalHume's biography and Hume's philosophyStephen Buckle — 1999
- 40journalHume on Pride, Vanity and SocietyEnrico Galvagni — 1 June 2020
- 41bookBoswell in Extremes, 1776–1778New York, McGraw-Hill — 1970
- 50journalHume and Humeans on Practical ReasonMichelle Mason — September 2005
- 51encyclopediaPractical ReasonJay Wallace — 2014
- 52inlineSee e.g. and
- 53journalDavid Hume and a Christian Perspective on HistoryShirley Mullen — 2003
- 54citationHume on ReligionPaul Russell et al. — Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University — 2021
- 56bookHume's Religious NaturalismLou Reich — University Press of America — 1998
- 57webArguments for the existence of God. The design (or teleological) argumentReligiouseducation.co.uk
- 58bookAn essay in answer to Mr. Hume's Essay on miraclesLondon : White — 1767
- 59bookThe Trial of the Witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus – Internet ArchiveThomas Sherlock — John Eliot — 1809
- 60webPaley's Evidences of Christianity: With Notes and Additions – William Paley, Charles Murray NairneWilliam Paley et al. — 1858
- 61bookAn essay in answer to Mr. Hume's Essay on miracles : Adams, William, 1706–1789London : White — 1767
- 63webA view of the principal deistical writers that have appeared in England in ... – John Leland, William Laurence BrownJohn Leland et al. — 1837
- 64webA Dissertation on Miracles: Containing an Examination of the Principles ... – George CampbellGeorge Campbell — 1823
- 65webCampbell, GeorgeHuitt, Kyle — 25 December 2016
- 66webDavid Hume's Classical LiberalismThomas W. Merrill — 2020-12-03
- 67journalDavid Hume and AmericaJohn Werner — 1972
- 69bookConservatism: An Anthology of Social and Political Thought from David Hume to the PresentPrinceton U.P. — 1997
- 70bookDavid Hume's Political Theory: Law, Commerce, and the Constitution of GovernmentNeil McArthur — University of Toronto Press — 2007
- 71journalBook review Neil McArthur, David Hume's Political Theory: Law, Commerce, and the Constitution of GovernmentEric Schliesser — 2009
- 72bookHistory of Political PhilosophyUniversity of Chicago Press — 2012
- 73webHow We Know The Earth Is OldPaul Krugman — 20 November 2012
- 76journalDavid Hume and MonetarismThomas Mayer — 1980
- 80webHume on ReligionRussel, Paul — 2010
- 82bookLanguage, Truth and LogicA.J. Ayer — Penguin Books Limited — 2001
- 86bookSkepticism, Parity, and Religion: The Case of HumeT. Penelhum — Springer — 2012
- 93journalDavid Hume BiographyT. E. Jessop — 1955
- 94bookHume VariationsJerry A. Fodor — Oxford University Press
- 95webUniversity cancels 'racist' David HumeMarc Horne — 2020-09-13
- 96newsCampaign to rename Edinburgh University building named after David Hume wins Students' Union supportNoa Hoffman — 6 July 2020
- 97webHume disciples back name change for university towerMarc Horne — 2020-09-17
- 99webSamson, G., The Concise Cambridge History of English Literature, CUP Archive, 1941, p. 548George Sampson — 1943
- 100bookThe Oxford Handbook of Adam SmithChristopher J. Berry et al. — Oxford University Press — 2013
- 102newsRenaming DHT was a necessary antiracist step, but only the first of manyMillie Lord — 28 September 2020