Philosophical Progress of Hume's Essays

David Hume's Essays: Moral, Political, and Literary offer valuable insights into his perspective on human life, promoting social and individual progress. Margaret Watkins' comprehensive study explores these neglected texts, addressing politics, war, slavery, and more, against the backdrop of eighteenth-century society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

For those who are receptive to the idea that philosophical inquiry can enhance one's life, David Hume's Essays: Moral, Political, and Literary offer valuable insights. In the first comprehensive examination of these often overlooked texts, Margaret Watkins delves into these neglected writings, demonstrating how they shed light on Hume's profound understanding of the breadth and intricacies of human existence. Watkins argues that the Essays reveal Hume's unwavering dedication to philosophy as a discipline capable of fostering social and individual progress. The volume explores a range of topics, including politics, war, slavery, the priesthood, the rise of industry, aesthetics, emotional disorders, egoism, friendship, sexuality, gender relations, and the essence of philosophy itself. By examining Hume's purposes and aims within the context of eighteenth-century society, the volume offers a comprehensive analysis of his ideas. This work will be of interest to scholars engaged in philosophy, politics, history, and economics, particularly those seeking to explore the enduring relevance of Hume's thought in contemporary discourse.

Weight: 406g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108700085