A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume
David Hume's Treatise of Human Nature is a classic work of philosophy that examines the nature of human understanding and experience. Hume argues that all knowledge is based on experience, and that all ideas are derived from impressions. He further argues that reason is limited in its ability to discover truth, and that the passions are the primary source of human motivation. Hume also examines the nature of morality, and argues that moral judgments are based on sentiment rather than reason. The Treatise is an important work in the history of philosophy, and has had a lasting influence on modern thought.
By David Hume · First published 1739 · Genre: Philosophy, Non-Fiction, Psychology · 60 chapters · 219,878 words
First lines
All the perceptions of the human mind resolve themselves into two distinct kinds, which I shall call IMPRESSIONS and IDEAS. The difference betwixt these consists in the degrees of force and liveliness, with which they strike upon the mind, and make their way into our thought or consciousness. Those perceptions, which enter with most force and violence, we may name impressions: and under this name I comprehend all our sensations, passions and emotions, as they make their first appearance in the soul. By ideas I mean the faint images of these in thinking and reasoning; such as, for instance, are all the perceptions excited by the present discourse, excepting only those which arise from the sight and touch, and excepting the immediate pleasure or uneasiness it may occasion. I believe it will not be very necessary to employ many words in explaining this distinction. Every one of himself will readily perceive the difference betwixt feeling and thinking. The common degrees of these are easily distinguished; though it is not impossible but in particular instances they may very nearly approach to each other. Thus in sleep, in a fever, in madness, or in any very violent emotions of soul, our ideas may approach to our impressions, As on the other hand it sometimes happens, that our impressions are so faint and low, that we cannot distinguish them from our ideas. But notwithstanding this near resemblance in a few instances, they are in general so very different, that no-one can make a scruple to rank them under distinct heads, and assign to each a peculiar name to mark the difference.[1]
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A Treatise of Human Nature is listed on Textopian as an essay by David Hume, dated 1739 CE.
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- Work type: Essay
- Author: David Hume
- Date: 1739 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophy, Non-Fiction, Psychology, History
- Length: 219,878 words
- Structure: 90 chapters, 1,695 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Philosophy — The book is a philosophical treatise written by the Scottish philosopher David Hume, which examines the nature of human understanding and behavior.
- Non-Fiction — The book is a non-fiction work that examines the nature of human understanding and behavior.
- Psychology — The book examines the nature of human understanding and behavior, which is a topic within the field of psychology.
- History — The book is a philosophical treatise written by the Scottish philosopher David Hume, which is a part of the history of philosophy.
Tags
Knowledge · Philosophy · Theory of · betwixt · contrary · derived · empiricism · evident · existence · experience · force · form
Contents
- Of the Origin of Our Ideas
- Division of the Subject
- Of the Ideas of the Memory and Imagination
- Of the Connexion or Association of Ideas
- Of Relations
- Of Modes and Substances
- Of Abstract Ideas
- Of the Infinite Divisibility of Our Ideas of Space and Time
- Of the Infinite Divisibility of Space and Time
- Of the Other Qualities of Our Idea of Space and Time
- Objections Answered
- The Same Subject Continued
- Of the Idea of Existence, and of External Existence
- Of Knowledge
- Of Probability, and of the Idea of Cause and Effect
- Why a Cause is Always Necessary
- Of the Component Parts of Our Reasonings Concerning Cause and Effect
- Of the Impressions of the Senses and Memory
- Of the Inference from the Impression to the Idea
- Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief
- Of the Causes of Belief
- Of the Effects of Other Relations and Other Habits
- Of the Influence of Belief
- Of the Probability of Chances
- Of the Probability of Causes
- Of Unphilosophical Probability
- Of the Idea of Necessary Connexion
- Rules by Which to Judge of Causes and Effects
- Of the Reason of Animals
- Of Scepticism With Regard to Reason
- Of Scepticism With Regard to the Senses
- Of the Antient Philosophy
- Of the Modern Philosophy
- Of the Immateriality of the Soul
- Of Personal Identity
- Conclusion of This Book
- Division of the Subject
- Of Pride and Humility, Their Objects and Causes
- Whence These Objects and Causes Are Derived
- Of the Relations of Impressions and Ideas
- Of the Influence of These Relations on Pride and Humility
- Limitations of This System
- Of Vice and Virtue
- Of Beauty and Deformity
- Of External Advantages and Disadvantages
- Of Property and Riches
- Of the Love of Fame
- Of the Pride and Humility of Animals
- Of the Object and Causes of Love and Hatred
- Experiments to Confirm This System
- Difficulties Solved
- Of the Love of Relations
- Of Our Esteem for the Rich and Powerful
- Of Benevolence and Anger
- Of Compassion
- Of Malice and Envy
- Of the Mixture of Benevolence and Anger With Compassion and Malice
- Of Respect and Contempt
- Of the Amorous Passion, or Love Betwixt the Sexes
- Of the Love and Hatred of Animals