David Hume
David Hume (1711 – 1776) David Hume, born in Scotland, was an influence upon many thinkers of the times, such as Gibbon, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant and Diderot. He carried the mission and spirit of the Enlightenment into England. He attacked Christianity and condemned its miracles. He is considered as a historian as well. His non-theological approach to history enabled him to achieve a certain level of impartiality. Considering that the world as it is, is imperfect, he rejects the involvement of a divine designer. Hume’s Views on Reason and Passion: Hume questions the primacy of reason, and accepts the dominance of passion. But, he did not support Rousseau’s idea of social contract as the origin of government. He considers it illogical to construct an ethics based on the subservience of passions to reason. Romanticism owes part of its revival to his questioning of the primacy of reason and the acceptance of the dominance of passion. Main Works: Enquiry concerning Human Under...