Literary Encyclopedia

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)