David Hume

Robert Mankin (Université de Paris-Diderot)

Engraving by William Holl the Younger after Allan Ramsay, 1853. Courtesy The Walter Scott Digital Archive, Edinburgh University Library.

Often considered Britain's greatest philosopher, David Hume characterised himself simply as a ‘man of letters'. Indeed, Hume wrote on such a variety of subjects, ranging from traditional philosophy to economics, politics, aesthetics, religion and English history, that in his own way, he may be

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First published 05 October 2003

Citation: Mankin, Robert. "David Hume". The Literary Encyclopedia. 05 October 2003

[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2255, accessed 30 July 2010.]

Life, Works and Times

Dates:

1711 to 1776 (Life Span)
1739 to 1776 (Activity Span)

Places:

Scotland (Birth)
Scotland (Primary Activity)

Activities:

Moralist (Primary)
Philosopher (Primary)
Essayist (Other)
Historian / Chronicler (Other)
Religious writer (Other)