David hume philosophy biography of martin

First published Mon 26 Feb,

Generally regarded as the most important philosopher ever to write in English, David Hume () -- the last of the great triumvirate of "British empiricists" -- was also noted as an historian and essayist.

A master stylist in any genre, Hume's major philosophical works -- A Treatise of Human Nature (), the Enquiries concerning Human Understanding () and concerning the Principles of Morals (), as well as the posthumously published Dialogues concerning Natural Religion () -- remain widely and deeply influential, despite their being denounced by many of his contemporaries as works of scepticism and atheism.

David hume works

While Hume's influence is evident in the moral philosophy and economic writings of his close friend Adam Smith, he also awakened Immanuel Kant from his "dogmatic slumbers" and "caused the scales to fall" from Jeremy Bentham's eyes.

Charles Darwin counted Hume as a central influence, as did "Darwin's bulldog," Thomas Henry Huxley. The