David Hume

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the article by David Hume entitled "That Politics May be Reduced to a Science", examining the nature of government and the differences which create argument and dissension. The paper explains that some maintain that all the goodness of government derives from the goodness of the administration, which also means that a bad government derives from a bad administration. Examples are cited showing that this is the case and Hume states that all absolute governments depend on the administration, which he sees as a weakness in the form of government. On the other hand, he states that a republican and free government would be an absurdity unless there were real controls imposed by a constitution. Hume then discusses the nature of law in regard to government and thereby attempts to reduce politics to a science.

From the Paper:

"Hume's analysis of government is extensive and detailed, including different types of ruler and the characteristics that such a ruler might manifest. He discusses the Nobility and its behavior in office. This leads to his statement of an axiom he says is universal, that "an hereditary prince, a nobility without vassals, and a people voting by their representatives, form the best monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy" (76). This statement is further an example of the sort of general truths that Hume says can be made about politics and that, therefore, can make politics a science."

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