About
David Hume, born in Edinburgh in 1711, is a major figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and abandoned law for philosophy. His major work, A Treatise of Human Nature (1739-1740), lays the foundations of his empiricism and skepticism. He then published essays and enquiries, as well as a six-volume History of England that brought him fame. Despite his reputation, he was denied university positions due to his controversial views. He held diplomatic posts in Paris and London. His influence on Kant and Adam Smith was considerable. He died in 1776.
* 1711-04-26 — † 1776-08-25
Major works
- A Treatise of Human Nature (1739-1740)philosophical treatise
- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)philosophical essay
- An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751)philosophical essay
- The History of England (1754-1762)history
- Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779)philosophical dialogue
Key milestones
- 1739Publication of A Treatise of Human Nature, his major philosophical work.
- 1754Start of publication of The History of England, which brought him fame.
- 1763Appointed secretary to the British embassy in Paris, where he was celebrated by intellectuals.
Themes
EmpiricismSkepticismNaturalismTheory of passionsCritique of religion
Sources: plato.stanford.edu · rep.routledge.com · dh.web.ox.ac.uk
