Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary
Also known as Essays, Moral and Political
David Hume's collected essays on politics, economics, taste and manners, gathered in two parts in 1758.
At a glance
Key ideas
Politics as a science, Taste, Economics …
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David Hume and Adam Smith
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- The collection brings together Hume's shorter essays.
- Part I holds the essays from Essays, Moral and Political, plus two from Four Dissertations, mostly on politics and aesthetics.
- Part II holds the essays from Political Discourses, most of which develop economic themes.
- Other topics include love, marriage and polygamy.
Why it matters
- During his lifetime Hume was known chiefly as a historian and essayist; these essays, unlike his Treatise, found readers at once.
Key facts
- Author
- David Hume1
- Essays, Moral and Political
- 17412
- Political Discourses
- Written 1749; published 1752 by Kincaid & Donaldson, the only work Hume considered successful on first publication2
- Two-part compilation
- 1758, within Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects, with the publisher Alexander Kincaid1
- Opened with
- My Own Life, by Hume, and a letter from Adam Smith to William Strahan1
Key ideas
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Politics as a science1
Part I includes "That Politics May Be Reduced to a Science", "Of the First Principles of Government" and "Of Civil Liberty".
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Taste1
"Of the Delicacy of Taste and Passion", "Of Tragedy" and "Of the Standard of Taste" take up aesthetic judgement.
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Economics1
Part II covers commerce, money, interest, the balance of trade, taxes and public credit.
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Government and obedience1
Part II also includes "Of the Original Contract", "Of Passive Obedience" and "Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth".
Connections
Links
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