One of the greatest figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, David or David Hume, is known not only as a philosopher, but also as a publicist, and as a historian, and as an economist. He also became famous in the field of sociology.
Philosophy of David Hume assumed the construction of a comprehensive science of man. The nature of people was divided by scientists into cognition, morality and affects.
Looking for a vocation
The biography of the future figure began in 1711. The child was born on April 26 (May 7) in Edinburgh in the family of a successful lawyer. His parents raised his older brother and sister, John and Catherine.
The mother took up raising children seriously after her husband passed away. From the age of 12, David was educated at the University of Edinburgh. He studied law and ancient Greek. However, after three years, the teenager realized that apart from literature and philosophy, he was not interested in any discipline. He left teaching in 1726.
Passion for the moral component of human nature led Hume to the conclusion that thinking alone can achieve a person's rebirth for the better. The young man was so carried away by brainstorming that in the end he completely abandoned any business and lost interest in reality.
Realizing that he was at an impasse, David decided to radically change the type of activity. He went to Bristol in 1734, then studied in France at the La Flèche school.
As a thinker, David introduced his early work "A Treatise on Human Nature." However, the changes proposed to the young scientist were not appreciated by his contemporaries. Part of the work was published in 1739-1740. After returning to his homeland, Hume continued to work on the essay "Experiments, Moral and Political." The publication of two parts of this work, 1741-1744, aroused moderate interest.
New concept
In 1745, David began to work as a tutor and mentor to the Marquis of Annandel. It turned out to be impossible to teach the young man suffering from mental illness anything. After a bad experience, Hume decided to go to seek a vocation in military service. In 1746, on the expedition of Arthur St. Clair, he became secretary and personal assistant to the organizer. The young man critically reviewed all previously written works after his return. The "Treatise on Human Nature" has not escaped alteration either.
In the fifties, Hume became interested in writing a book about the history of England. The first volume, published in 1756, was received negatively. However, anger soon gave way to approval. A total of 6 volumes were published, later two of them were republished by Hume himself. The author was elected curator of the Law Library.
The end in 1763 of the Seven Years' War between France and England brought David the post of secretary in the British embassy. In Paris, he remained until 1766. He returned to his homeland to help move to England and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In 1767, the philosopher took part in solving state issues. He remained in office for less than a year.
In 1768, already an accomplished prosperous man, David returned to Edinburgh. He created the Philosophical Society, in which the founder served as a secretary. An autobiography was published in 1776. The author himself did not hide the desire for fame, but described himself as an open and friendly person.
The scientist died in 1776, on August 25. Nothing is known about his personal life. In his work "On Polygamy and Divorces", created by him in 1742, there is a small mention of the fact that the philosopher was married. But there is no more accurate information.
The philosophical concept proposed by him waited for evaluation much later. According to the teachings of Hume, man is the center of philosophy. The rest of the sciences should be based precisely on philosophy. Therefore, their foundation is the concept offered by this discipline. According to the author, in any case, astronomy, mathematics and physics should return to their base.
Key points
According to Hume, the science of man is based on experience and observation. It is necessary to begin the study of knowledge with its reliability and substantiation of experience. The scientist put the science of human nature, called the subject of philosophy, much higher than other disciplines. He explained scientific progress only by the ability to explain the greatness of reason by philosophy.
The study of human affects begins then, and only then does the transition to the virtue of morality take place. The philosopher saw various signs in the nature of people. He emphasized the possibility of finding food in science. Hume called man a social being, recognizing the need for human potential in areas close in spirit to man.
The conclusions of the famous philosopher indicate that nature provides for a mixed way of life, without being carried away by individual inclinations. Only with such an organization is it possible to preserve the ability for other types of creativity. First of all, philosophical knowledge implies the study of cognitive capabilities. It is followed by the aesthetic component and the principle of morality closes the list.
Main postulates
Experience remains the only source of knowledge about Hume. However, the philosopher attributed it to perception, excluding the external world from it. Cognition is based on perceptions, ideas and impressions.
The scientist singled out the principle of association in cognition. Feelings governed similarity and contiguity, and causality required the test of empiricism. The causal relationship is the idea of objects connected in space and time.
The public is in human nature. It is impossible to live without society, which is why a family is so necessary. In turn, it leads to the emergence of social relations.
Hume's philosophy provided the basis for all European philosophy. Further development of science confirmed the scientist's fears about making any conclusions absolutized. Reasonable doubt and skepticism are especially important in the search for truth.
