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Hume's Aristocratic Preference
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2009
Extract
IT HAS often been correctly remarked that a pronounced aristocratic preference informed the political thought of David Hume. This paper will attempt to show: 1) the philosophical basis for an aristocratic approach to politics which Hume provided in his logic, ethics, and esthetics; 2) the manner in which this aristocratic preference influenced his political thought; 3) the fact that this preference represented, in its various manifestations, a normative intrusion upon his experimental method; and 4) the sources of this preference in Hume's personality and in the cultural and social values shared by “gentlemen” of Britain's Augustan Age.
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- Copyright © University of Notre Dame 1966
References
1 See particularly Frederick Watkins' introductory essay in his edition of Hume's, political essays, Hume's Theory of Politics (New York, 1951)Google Scholar. I am indebted to Watkins' essay not only for his discussion of Hume's “aristocratic bias” and his political thought, but for his suggestion that this bias may have influenced Hume's philosophy in general. Studies which emphasize Hume's conservatism include: Wolin, Sheldon, “Hume and Conservatism,” American Politicali Science Review, XLVIII (12, 1954), 999–1016CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Aiken, Henry, ed., Hume's Moral And Political Philosophy (New York, 1948)Google Scholar, “Introduction”; Vaughan, G. E., Studies In the History Of Political Philosophy, (Manchester, 1925, 2 vols.), I, chapter 6Google Scholar; Willey, Basil, The Eighteenth Century Background (Boston, 1961 edition), Chapter 7Google Scholar.
2 A Treatise Of Human Nature in The Philosophical Works of David Hume (Edinburgh-Boston, 1854, 4 vols.), I, 137Google Scholar. The Treatise is found in vols. 1 and 2. This edition of Hume's Works is used throughout this paper.
3 Ibid., I, 162.
4 Ibid., I, 193–194.
5 Ibid., I, 192ff., 221ff. For a discussion of Hume's logic, methodology, and conception of general rules, see Passmore, J. A., Hume's Intentions (Cambridge, 1952), pp. 1–64Google Scholar. On the particular point discussed above, see pp. 60, 63.
6 In a letter of April 12, 1759, to Adam Smith, Hume wrote: “My dear Mr. Smith, have patience: compose yourself to tranquility: show yourself a philosopher in practice as well as profession: think on the emptiness, and rashness, and futility of the common judgments of men; how little they are regulated by reason in any subject, much more in philosophical subjects, which so far exceed the comprehension of the vulgar.… A wise man's kingdom is in his own breast; or, if he looks farther, it will only be to the judgment of a select few, who are free from prejudices, and capable of examining his work. Nothing, indeed, can be a stronger presumption of falsehood than the approbation of the multitude.” Grieg, J.Y.T., ed., The Letters of David Hume (Oxford, 1932, 2 vols.), I, 305Google Scholar.
7 Treatise, II, 164, 219, 220.
8 “The Sceptic,” Works, III, 177.
9 Treatise, II, 235.
10 Basson, A. H., David Hume (London, 1938), p. 104Google Scholar.
11 Vaughan, , op. cit., p. 318Google Scholar.
12 “Of the Original Contract,” Works, III, 516.
13 Treatise, II, 328.
14 An Inquiry Concerning the Principles Of Morals, Works, IV, 235. This quotation is in a footnote indicating that it appeared only in Edition M of the Inquiry.
15 Treatise, II, 171.
16 An Inquiry Concerning the Human Understanding, Works, IV, 220; Treatise, II, 364.
17 Smith, Norman Kemp, The Philosophy Of David Hume (London, 1941), pp. 201CrossRefGoogle Scholar, 202.
18 Treatise, II, 170.
19 “The Sceptic,” Works, III, 185.
20 Ibid., III, 186, 187.
21 Ibid., III, 1–5.
22 “Of the Standard of Taste,” Works, III, 265.
23 “Of the Origin Of Justice And Property,” Treatise, II, 261. Hume argued that “this interest which all men have in the upholding of society, and the observation of the rules of justice, is great … palpable and evident even to the most rude and uncultivated of the human race; and it is almost impossible for any one who has had experience of society, to be mistaken in this particular.” “Of the Origin Of Government,” Treatise, II, 306.
24 Ibid. II, 304.
25 Watkins, , op. cit., xvii, xxiiGoogle Scholar.
26 An Inquiry Concerning the Principles Of Morals, Works, IV, 268.
27 Treatise, II, 304.
28 Ibid., II, 311, 312. Hume's remarks pertinent to a science of politics can be found, in part, in “That Politics May Be Reduced To a Science,” Works, III, 11, and Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Works, IV, 7, 13, 51, 94, 95, 96, 102, 187.
29 Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Works, IV, 95, 96; “Of the Independency Of Parliament,” Works, III, 39–46.
30 Works, III, 36, footnote on 546.
31 “Of Commerce,” Works, III, 284.
32 Treatise, II, 291.
33 Ibid., II, 321.
34 “Of the First Principles Of Government,” Works, III, 28, 30.
35 “Idea Of a Perfect Commonwealth,” Works, III, 546.
36 Treatise, II, 328.
37 “Of the Original Contract,” Works, III, 501.
38 Treatise, II, 171.
39 “Of the Original Contract,” Works, III, 506.
40 “Idea Of a Perfect Commonwealth,” Ibid., III, 546.
41 Inquiry Concerning Morals, Works, IV, 255, 256, 257.
42 “Of Commerce,” op. cit., 285.
43 “Of Refinement In the Arts,” Works, III, 297, 299.
44 Ibid., III, 300.
45 Ibid., III, 303.
46 Mossner, Ernest, The Life Of David Hume (Austin, 1954), p. 186Google Scholar.
47 Willey, , op. cit., p. 20Google Scholar.
48 Ibid., p. 75.
49 Works, III, 185, 186.
50 “My Own Life,” Works, I, xxi.
51 Willey, , op. cit., p. 56Google Scholar.