An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.

Hume, David

Published by Printed for A. Millar, London, 1751

About this Item

First edition, first state of what Hume, himself, considered his masterpiece with leaf L3 uncancelled and with the catchword "than" on recto. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with five raised bands to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt-turn ins. Half-title, errata, and advertisements at rear. In very good condition. Ownership signature. Housed in a custom folding chemise slipcase. Exceptionally clean internally, most rare and desirable bound in a contemporary binding. Humeâ s Treatise of Human Nature (1739-40) was the first attempt to apply principles of Lockeâ s empirical psychology to a theory of knowledge. In this and his Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Hume stands as a leading voice in the school of Utilitarianism, â the most influential and longest continuing tradition in English speaking moral philosophyâ ¦ marked by a long line of brilliant writersâ that includes Adam Smith, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Humeâ s Enquiry importantly explores â how we make moral judgmentsâ ¦ the â mechanismâ of moral judgments. How are they made and what accounts for their content? Hume aims to be the â Newton of the Passions.â In contrast to Locke, he does not present a normative system of principles founded on the Laws of Natureâ ¦ [but] the role it plays in social life and in establishing social unity and mutual understandingâ ¦ What Hume is trying to do is explain the fact that we agreeâ ¦ On Humeâ s view there is only one possible basis, and that is one that appeals to our principle of humanityâ ¦ the psychological tendency we have to identify with the interests and concerns of others when our own interests do not come into competition with themâ (Rawls 162, 177-87). An Enquiry was, in Humeâ s own opinion, â Of all my writings incomparably the bestâ (Autobiography). The influence of Utilitarianism as furthered by Hume was immense: â He may be regarded as the acutest thinker in Great Britain of the 18th centuryâ (DNB).

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.
• Publisher: Printed for A. Millar, London
• Publication Date: 1751
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
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