David Hume
- Born:
- May 7, 1711, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Died:
- August 25, 1776, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Nationality:
- Scottish
- Profession(s):
- Philosopher, Historian, Essayist, Economist
Early Life and Education
- Born into a modest family in Edinburgh.
- Began studies at the University of Edinburgh at the unusually young age of twelve, initially intending to pursue a career in law.
- Abandoned legal studies to pursue philosophical and literary interests.
- Suffered a period of psychological crisis at the age of eighteen, which he later attributed to intense intellectual activity.
Career and Major Achievements
- Spent several years in France, where he completed his A Treatise of Human Nature.
- Served as secretary to General St Clair during military expeditions in the 1740s.
- Held the position of Librarian to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh (1752-1757).
- Achieved widespread recognition and financial security later in his career, particularly as a historian.
- His philosophical works initially met with limited success and were often controversial.
Notable Works
- A Treatise of Human Nature (1739–40)
- Essays, Moral and Political (1741–42)
- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)
- An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751)
- Political Discourses (1752)
- The History of England (1754–62)
- Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (published posthumously)
- His short My Own Life, a brief account written in April 1776, is effectively the "autobiography of david hume".
Legacy and Impact
David Hume is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy. His empiricist and skeptical approach had a profound influence on subsequent philosophical thought, particularly on Immanuel Kant and the development of logical positivism. His writings on economics and history also contributed significantly to these fields.