David Hume

Knud Haakonssen* (Editor), Richard Whatmore (Editor)

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBook

Abstract

This volume on Hume's politics brings together essays that have been formative of the scholarly and more general debate about Hume's political thought. Unlike many theorists who express their thought in terms of system, Hume uses the incidental genre of the essay as the vehicle for his writing and his mode of presentation is a reflection, indeed an expression, of his belief in the limited power of reason to give any over-all shape to human life. Hume's politics are particularly suited for discussion of a wide range of view-points. The possibilities of seeing in Hume both the conservative and the liberal are pursued along with Hume's sophisticated analysis of party-politics. His acute and pioneering theorisation of perhaps the most central issue for 18th-century political observers, that of commerce and politics, is brought out in the context of his ideas of the international order. His fundamental theory of justice is discussed in its connection with law, property and government.

Original languageEnglish
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Number of pages494
ISBN (Electronic)9781315258492
ISBN (Print)9780754627166
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2017

Publication series

NameInternational library of essays in the history of social and political thought

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  • Hume's obligations

    Haakonssen, K., 15 May 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) David Hume. Haakonssen, K. & Whatmore, R. (eds.). London: Taylor and Francis, p. 285-296 12 p. (International library of essays in the history of social and political thought).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

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