Hume, David
Overview
David Hume (1711-1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, widely regarded as one of the greatest figures of the Scottish Enlightenment. A key figure in the history of modern Western philosophy, Hume's empiricism and skepticism have influenced many thinkers in philosophy, psychology, and the social sciences.
Significance
Hume is best known for his philosophical positions on human nature, religion, politics, and morality. He argued that human knowledge is derived solely from experience, challenging traditional metaphysics and rationalism. Hume's naturalistic understanding of human behavior has had a profound impact on the social sciences, particularly in sociology, psychology, and economics.
Contributions
Hume made significant contributions to philosophy through his development of British empiricism, which emphasizes the role of experience in shaping knowledge and belief. He also introduced the problem of induction, questioning our ability to make reliable generalizations based on past experiences. In addition, Hume's work on human nature helped lay the foundation for modern moral psychology and the social sciences.
## Major Works
- A Treatise of Human Nature (1739-1740)
- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
- An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751)
- The History of England (1754-1762)
- Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779, posthumously published)