David Hume

Life

• Birth: Born on May 7, 1711 (Old Style) in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Education:
• Entered University of Edinburgh at age 12 (1723)
• Left without degree to pursue independent study (1726)
• Career:
• Worked as a merchant's clerk in Bristol (1734)
• Librarian at Edinburgh Faculty of Advocates (1752-1757)
• Secretary to British Embassy in Paris (1763-1766)
• Under-Secretary of State for Northern Department (1767-1768)
• Death: Died on August 25, 1776 in Edinburgh

People Who Influenced Their Thought

• John Locke: Inspired his empiricist approach
• Isaac Newton: Influenced his scientific methodology
• Francis Hutcheson: Shaped his moral philosophy
• Pierre Bayle: French skeptic who impacted his views

Main Ideas and Publications

• A Treatise of Human Nature: (1739-40) Foundation of his philosophy
• An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: (1748) More accessible version of his epistemology
• An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals: (1751) His moral philosophy
• Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion: (published posthumously in 1779) On theology
• Empiricism: All knowledge derives from sense experience
• Problem of Induction: Questioned justification for inductive reasoning
• Is-Ought Problem: Distinction between descriptive and prescriptive statements

Controversies around Their Main Work or Thought

• Religious Views: Accused of atheism despite his denials
• Skepticism: Criticized for undermining rational foundations of knowledge
• Causation Theory: Challenged common notions of cause and effect

Key People Influenced by Their Thought

• Immanuel Kant: Awakened from "dogmatic slumbers" by Hume
• Adam Smith: Close friend who applied his ideas to economics
• Jeremy Bentham: Developed utilitarianism from Hume's moral philosophy
• Charles Darwin: Influenced by his empiricist approach

Legacy

David Hume revolutionized Western philosophy through his radical empiricism, skepticism, and naturalistic approach to human understanding and morality.