Contents
David Hume
Questioning certainty about causation and grounding accounts of human thought in experience.
A Treatise of Human Nature · Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
- Born
- 7 May 1711
- Birthplace
- Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Died
- 25 August 1776
More people
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian and essayist associated with the Enlightenment.
Early life
Scottish upbringing
Grew up in Edinburgh and the Borders.
Early study
Attended Edinburgh University before pursuing an independent intellectual life.
Career
- 1730s
First major work
Wrote A Treatise of Human Nature while spending time in France.
- 1740s–1750s
Essays and enquiries
Reworked his arguments for wider readers.
- 1750s–1760s
History and public service
Published his History of England and served in diplomatic roles.
Selected writings
A Treatise of Human Nature
Studied understanding, passions and morals.
Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
Examined knowledge, evidence and causal reasoning.
Dialogues concerning Natural Religion
A posthumous discussion of arguments about God.
Beyond philosophy
Historian
His History of England was a major part of his reputation.
Intellectual friendships
Corresponded and socialised with figures including Adam Smith.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy ↗Photo: Allan Ramsay. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
