David Hume

Paper Summary:

The author of this paper describes the work of David Hume and refers to him as "probably the greatest philosopher to write in English". The paper then goes on to explain Hume's ideology as well as his interests in the social sciences including economics, politics and literature and their place in the development of mankind.

From the Paper:

"Adam Smith is normally noted when discussing the beginnings of economics. However, it was his friend, David Hume, who wrote the "Political Discourses" as part of Essays and Treatises, part 2 of Essays Moral and Political, who is believed to have been a major influence. Hume is probably the greatest philosopher to write in English, and it is chiefly as a philosopher that he is read in modern times (Chappell), not only because of his enlightened ideology, but because of his interests in the social sciences including economics as well as politics and literature and their place in the development of mankind. His philosophical writings were wide and deep, especially on the balance of trade and thoughts on mercantilism."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Beer, M. Early British Economics from the XIIIth to the Middle of the XVIIIth Century. London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1938
• Bricke, John. Hume, Motivation and Morality, Hume Studies (1988) 14: 1-24.
• Hume, David. A Treatise of Human Nature. London: Oxford University, 2007
• The Philosophy of David Hume. New York: Modern Library, 1963.
• Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary New York: Liberty Fund, 1987

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