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David Hume: Biography
Scottish philosopher, sociologist, historian and economist David Hume was born on May 7, 1711 in Edinburgh into a wealthy aristocratic family. At the insistence of his parents, he entered to study law. David quickly dropped out of school, realizing that legal sciences did not particularly appeal to him.
After a while, an unsuccessful attempt to do business occurs. Later he devoted his entire life to research in the field of philosophy.
In 1734, Hume went to France. Fascinated by the ideas of the French encyclopedists, he worked hard for three years on his first three-volume work “A Treatise on Human Nature …”. The work did not receive proper approval and Hume returned to his parental home.
David Hume (1711-1776)
His methodology can be summed up in the word “skepticism”, but not in the sense of “mistrust”, but in the sense of refusing to excessively believe in appearance, tradition, power, and institutions. There is a sober and honest reason for this denial – to think for yourself.
And this means – he does not give up self-affirmation. This can sometimes lead to “reasonable selfishness”, which, however, is a safer counselor in life than “sentimental altruism.” The life of the philosopher shows that he always asserted his rights and acted arrogantly.
When Tractatus … faced the constant misunderstanding of the traditionally educated audience, Hume did not abandon his vision of philosophy. He decided to establish himself as a thinker by other more understandable means: an essay.
last years of life
Until 1768, David Hume served as Assistant Secretary of State for Northern Affairs. Then he resigned and returned to his homeland as a fairly wealthy person. Here he creates a society of philosophers, which included: A. Ferguson, A. Smith, A. Monroe, J. Black, H. Blair and others.
At the end of his life, Hume wrote his Autobiography. There he described himself as a sociable person, but with some weakness for the fame of a writer. In 1775, Hume developed symptoms of bowel disease. He died of cancer on August 25, 1776. He was 65 years old.
On his grave, Hume bequeathed to make a short inscription: “David Hume. Born on May 7, 1711, died … “. “I leave it to posterity,” he wrote, “to add the rest.”
Philosophy of David Hume
The forms have changed, but the goal remains, supplemented by a decisive condition: personal self-affirmation – self-disclosure of the mind.
The first part of his essay “Moral and Political Essay” is warmly welcomed by the scientific community. He was appointed librarian at Edinburgh College of Law, where he began writing his History of England.
The book was published in parts from 1754 to 1762. Some of the units were met with complete disapproval from the representatives of the liberal bourgeoisie.
Hume set the task of introducing the method of experimental analysis into the humanities. He tries to free moral philosophy from all speculation. The key aspects of his ethics are the following points:
- moral differences arise from feelings of approval or disapproval in terms of pain or pleasure;
- feeling underlies what we perceive as “good” or “bad”, “virtue” or “vice”;
- in principle, reason is theoretical;
- feelings and passions prevail in the construction of a moral judgment: “reason is a slave to passions”;
- morality is based on virtues, duties and general natural feelings (gratitude, benevolence and sympathy);
- justice is an artificial virtue arising from our reflection and desire to satisfy our natural inclinations.
Lecture topic: “David Hume: Philosophy”
Interesting lecture on philosophy, Ph.D., associate professor Pavlova Elena Leonidovna ↓
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