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A Treatise of Human Nature / An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding / An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals / Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy. This Collection includes the full essays of A Treatise of Human Nature, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, and Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. All essays include internal working Table of Contents.
1349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2011
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About the author
David Hume
3,157 books1,701 followersDavid Hume was a Scottish historian, philosopher, economist, diplomat and essayist known today especially for his radical philosophical empiricism and scepticism.
In light of Hume's central role in the Scottish Enlightenment, and in the history of Western philosophy, Bryan Magee judged him as a philosopher "widely regarded as the greatest who has ever written in the English language." While Hume failed in his attempts to start a university career, he took part in various diplomatic and military missions of the time. He wrote The History of England which became a bestseller, and it became the standard history of England in its day.
His empirical approach places him with John Locke, George Berkeley, and a handful of others at the time as a British Empiricist.
Beginning with his A Treatise of Human Nature (1739), Hume strove to create a total naturalistic "science of man" that examined the psychological basis of human nature. In opposition to the rationalists who preceded him, most notably René Descartes, he concluded that desire rather than reason governed human behaviour. He also argued against the existence of innate ideas, concluding that humans have knowledge only of things they directly experience. He argued that inductive reasoning and therefore causality cannot be justified rationally. Our assumptions in favour of these result from custom and constant conjunction rather than logic. He concluded that humans have no actual conception of the self, only of a bundle of sensations associated with the self.
Hume's compatibilist theory of free will proved extremely influential on subsequent moral philosophy. He was also a sentimentalist who held that ethics are based on feelings rather than abstract moral principles, and expounded the is–ought problem.
Hume has proved extremely influential on subsequent western philosophy, especially on utilitarianism, logical positivism, William James, the philosophy of science, early analytic philosophy, cognitive philosophy, theology and other movements and thinkers. In addition, according to philosopher Jerry Fodor, Hume's Treatise is "the founding document of cognitive science". Hume engaged with contemporary intellectual luminaries such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, James Boswell, and Adam Smith (who acknowledged Hume's influence on his economics and political philosophy). Immanuel Kant credited Hume with awakening him from "dogmatic slumbers".
In light of Hume's central role in the Scottish Enlightenment, and in the history of Western philosophy, Bryan Magee judged him as a philosopher "widely regarded as the greatest who has ever written in the English language." While Hume failed in his attempts to start a university career, he took part in various diplomatic and military missions of the time. He wrote The History of England which became a bestseller, and it became the standard history of England in its day.
His empirical approach places him with John Locke, George Berkeley, and a handful of others at the time as a British Empiricist.
Beginning with his A Treatise of Human Nature (1739), Hume strove to create a total naturalistic "science of man" that examined the psychological basis of human nature. In opposition to the rationalists who preceded him, most notably René Descartes, he concluded that desire rather than reason governed human behaviour. He also argued against the existence of innate ideas, concluding that humans have knowledge only of things they directly experience. He argued that inductive reasoning and therefore causality cannot be justified rationally. Our assumptions in favour of these result from custom and constant conjunction rather than logic. He concluded that humans have no actual conception of the self, only of a bundle of sensations associated with the self.
Hume's compatibilist theory of free will proved extremely influential on subsequent moral philosophy. He was also a sentimentalist who held that ethics are based on feelings rather than abstract moral principles, and expounded the is–ought problem.
Hume has proved extremely influential on subsequent western philosophy, especially on utilitarianism, logical positivism, William James, the philosophy of science, early analytic philosophy, cognitive philosophy, theology and other movements and thinkers. In addition, according to philosopher Jerry Fodor, Hume's Treatise is "the founding document of cognitive science". Hume engaged with contemporary intellectual luminaries such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, James Boswell, and Adam Smith (who acknowledged Hume's influence on his economics and political philosophy). Immanuel Kant credited Hume with awakening him from "dogmatic slumbers".
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 1, 2025
The greatest work of philosophy in the English language, or any other, for modern times. Every issue of science, psychology, religion and morality is Hume's domain. Not to be missed.
November 3, 2025
David Humes „Ein Traktat über die menschliche Natur“ ist ein Meilenstein des Empirismus, der die Philosophie durch seine radikale Skepsis gegenüber Kausalität und dem Substanzbegriff des „Ich“ revolutioniert hat. So bahnbrechend diese erkenntnistheoretischen Teile auch sind, am faszinierendsten finde ich Humes Moralphilosophie, insbesondere seine Theorie des Versprechens.
Mit beeindruckender Klarheit entzaubert Hume diese moralische Pflicht: Für ihn ist das Halten von Versprechen keine „natürliche“ Tugend oder ein göttliches Gebot, sondern eine durchdachte menschliche Konvention – ein künstliches Werkzeug, das wir erfunden haben, weil wir es brauchen.
Hume zeigt, dass diese Konvention aus der praktischen Notwendigkeit von Vertrauen und Stabilität entsteht. Da wir für zukünftige Kooperationen auf andere angewiesen sind, brauchen wir ein Signal des Vertrauens. Genau hier kommt die Freiwilligkeit ins Spiel: Das Versprechen ist ein bewusster Akt, durch den wir uns selbst binden – nicht aus Magie, sondern aus Vernunft und sozialem Bedarf.
Diese pragmatische Begründung macht den Traktat zu einem erstaunlich modernen Werk – und erinnert daran, dass Moral nicht vom Himmel fällt, sondern aus den Bedürfnissen menschlichen Zusammenlebens erwächst.
Mit beeindruckender Klarheit entzaubert Hume diese moralische Pflicht: Für ihn ist das Halten von Versprechen keine „natürliche“ Tugend oder ein göttliches Gebot, sondern eine durchdachte menschliche Konvention – ein künstliches Werkzeug, das wir erfunden haben, weil wir es brauchen.
Hume zeigt, dass diese Konvention aus der praktischen Notwendigkeit von Vertrauen und Stabilität entsteht. Da wir für zukünftige Kooperationen auf andere angewiesen sind, brauchen wir ein Signal des Vertrauens. Genau hier kommt die Freiwilligkeit ins Spiel: Das Versprechen ist ein bewusster Akt, durch den wir uns selbst binden – nicht aus Magie, sondern aus Vernunft und sozialem Bedarf.
Diese pragmatische Begründung macht den Traktat zu einem erstaunlich modernen Werk – und erinnert daran, dass Moral nicht vom Himmel fällt, sondern aus den Bedürfnissen menschlichen Zusammenlebens erwächst.
June 13, 2024
The first work, A Treatise of Human Nature examines the foundations of our cognition, emotions and behavior. It tries to blend these empirical observations in a metaphysical sense.
The second work, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, then talks about these ideas further by exploring human knowledge and the limitations of reason. I think the term "mitigated skepticism” is so fitting.
An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals was an analysis on the ethical principles that highlight sentiment over rationality in moral judgments, showing the nuanced nature of ethics.
Lastly, the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion was a critique on religious dogma and the arguments for the existence of God.
I must say, this is a difficult read, and I’ve been going back to it every year or so just to see how much more I can appreciate these works. In essence, if you think the search for knowledge and moral clarity is grounded not within books and discussions, but the careful observation of human experience and the humble recognition of our own limitations, then you will find yourself surprised that someone from the 1700s has written down your thoughts into words.
The second work, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, then talks about these ideas further by exploring human knowledge and the limitations of reason. I think the term "mitigated skepticism” is so fitting.
An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals was an analysis on the ethical principles that highlight sentiment over rationality in moral judgments, showing the nuanced nature of ethics.
Lastly, the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion was a critique on religious dogma and the arguments for the existence of God.
I must say, this is a difficult read, and I’ve been going back to it every year or so just to see how much more I can appreciate these works. In essence, if you think the search for knowledge and moral clarity is grounded not within books and discussions, but the careful observation of human experience and the humble recognition of our own limitations, then you will find yourself surprised that someone from the 1700s has written down your thoughts into words.
January 18, 2022
Really good book reducing dogma and desire for certainty (also great for agnostics)
October 26, 2022
This is deep and you need to pay attention. Not the best book for driving in the car to work.
December 27, 2024
It’s like the theory of evolution but for epistemology 👍a bit obvious but still very much needed and probably groundbreaking at the time
April 8, 2025
This guy invented empiricism. Need I say more? For centuries philosophers have sought to overcome David Hume’s problem of induction and for centuries they have failed. The doubts he expresses in these essays continue to beleaguer great thinkers even today. The very principle of cause and effect shivers in its boots upon hearing the name David Hume. A classic and an easy five stars.
August 31, 2016
I've read enough to be seriously impressed.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews