Celebrating David Hume

In the book he attempted to create ‘a science of man’ derived from a psychological basis of human nature.

It made little impact at publication, receiving a hostile reception from critics who described it as ‘unintelligible’ but has since established itself as one of the most important books in western philosophy.

Known as the Great Sceptic, Hume courted controversy by insisting that God’s existence could not be proved because human beings could only have knowledge of things they directly experienced.

He was labelled an aetheist – something he never admitted to – and a heretic. In 1844 he was overlooked for the Chair of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University after a campaign for influential church ministers. Later he would fail to gain a similar position at Glasgow University.

In addition to philosophy, Hume was a historian who wrote The History of England in six volumes and more than 1,000,000 words – a best seller of its day.

He lived out his life in Edinburgh and is buried in the Old Calton cemetery under a memorial offering only his name and the dates of birth and death ‘ leaving it to posterity to add the rest’.