David Hume

Biography
» David Hume was born on 7th of May 1711
» He was a Scottish
Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist,
who is best known today for his highly influential system of
philosophical empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism.
» A master stylist in any genre, his major philosophical works—A
Treatise of Human Nature (1739–1740), the Enquiries
concerning Human Understanding (1748) and concerning the
Principles of Morals (1751), as well as his posthumously
published Dialogues concerning Natural Religion (1779)—
remain widely and deeply influential.
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“The Self is nothing

but a bundle of
expression and
ideas.”
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“Self is an empty
idea.”
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» Treatise of Human Nature

(Empiricism, Skepticism, Naturalism)
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» David Hume is best known for his

empirical, skeptical and natural approach
in philosophy specifically pertaining to the
science which deals with the existence of
human knowledge.

» He argued that and questioned the

rationalist belief and claimed that there is
no permanent “self” that continues over
time.
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» He defended the skeptical position that human

reason is inherently contradictory, and it is only
through naturally-instilled beliefs that we can
navigate our way through common life.
» Today, philosophers recognize Hume as a
thoroughgoing exponent of philosophical
naturalism, as a precursor of contemporary
cognitive science, and as the inspiration for
several of the most significant types of ethical
theory developed in contemporary moral
philosophy.