A Treatise of Human Nature Summary
David Hume

A Treatise of Human Nature Summary

The Treatise of Human Nature ranks among the great works of philosophy in all of history. David Hume (1711 - 1776) wrote the Treatise in 1738 and published it in 1739 and 1740. Its originality alone would have given Hume a place in history but the maturity of the book, though written by Hume at such an early age, establishes him as one of history's great geniuses.

The Treatise is an exercise in epistemology, moral psychology and cognitive science. Hume is out to give an account of human nature. Hume gives accounts of how humans come to know things, how they think about things, what emotions are, what perception is, whether there is free will, the relationship between will, reason and passion, the basis of morality and virtue, the nature of moral judgment, and the origins of society and social morality. He answers these questions in three books; Book I... View more of the A Treatise of Human Nature Summary