The Scottish philosopher who traded legal law for the science of man

Art · Published 29 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: David Hume was a man of many titles: historian, economist, and essayist. Yet, while he is remembered today as a titan of skepticism and empiricism, he viewed himself primarily as a moralist. His journey from a frustrated law student to a foundational thinker of the Enlightenment reveals a complex intellectual evolution.

Born in Edinburgh in 1711, David Hume was destined for a life of landed gentry, but as the younger brother, he had to seek a profession outside of estate ownership. He began studying law at the University of Edinburgh at age 12, but a nervous breakdown in 1729 led him to abandon the field. He subsequently moved to France in 1734 to study at a Jesuit college in La Flèche, the same site where René Descartes once studied. His early career was marked by instability, including roles as a sugar company clerk, a tutor, and a secretary on military expeditions.

Hume’s academic path was hindered by his personal beliefs; he was rejected from university lectures at both Edinburgh and Glasgow due to concerns over his atheism. He eventually gained fame and fortune during his lifetime not for his philosophy, but for his popular six-volume History of England. His most significant philosophical contribution, A Treatise of Human Nature, was written while he was in France. Despite being a vast three-volume publication meant to apply experimental reasoning to ethics, the 1740 release of this work produced little initial interest.

Recognizing the need for a different approach, Hume repackaged his ideas into shorter, more accessible forms. His output featured An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748), An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751)—deemed his finest piece—alongside the Dissertation on the Passions (1757). These works gained significant traction and were translated into French by 1758. While he is celebrated for his skepticism regarding religion and his theories on knowledge, Hume’s core interest remained the 'science of man,' a precursor to modern social sciences and psychology.

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