A Treatise of Human Nature

Chapter 2: ADVERTISEMENT.

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

About This Book

A sustained philosophical inquiry presents an empiricist account of human thought, feeling, and morals across several interlinked books and sections. It analyzes impressions and ideas, their origins in sense and reflection, and the association of ideas; examines knowledge, probability, and the notion of causation as founded on habit rather than logical necessity; develops a bundle theory of personal identity; and treats the passions by tracing pride, humility, love, hatred, and benevolence to psychological causes. The final parts argue that moral judgments derive from sentiment and social convention, with justice framed as an artificial virtue grounded in utility and custom.

ADVERTISEMENT.

My design in the present work is sufficiently explained in the Introduction. The reader must only observe, that all the subjects I have there planned out to myself, are not treated of in these two volumes. The subjects of the Understanding and Passions make a compleat chain of reasoning by themselves; and I was willing to take advantage of this natural division, in order to try the taste of the public. If I have the good fortune to meet with success, I shall proceed to the examination of Morals, Politics, and Criticism; which will compleat this Treatise of Human Nature. The approbation of the public I consider as the greatest reward of my labours; but am determined to regard its judgment, whatever it be, as my best instruction.