David Hume philosopher and historian

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/2176-6665.2004v9n2p19

Keywords:

Philosophy and history, Historical knowledge, David Hume

Abstract

Among all the great philosophers, David Hume has the rare merit of joining to a properly philosophical work an equally important output as historian. According to him, the interpretation of history by means of the general principles of political theory must not be guided by ethical or normative considerations, as when judging historic events according to what things ought to be, for instance, in view of the best government, but it should be restricted to explain the exercise of power in the different times, just as it can be established by the testimony of the sources. Only this methodological attitude allows us to avoid the partisan interpretations that try to justify the present by the past, instead of investigating it to corroborate the most appropriate explanation.

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Author Biography

Sara Albieri, Universidade de São Paulo - USP

Doctor in Philosophy from the Universidade de São Paulo - USP. Professor at the Universidade de São Paulo - USP.

References

BOLlNGBROKE, Lord. Letters on the Study and Use of History. In: BOLlNGBROKE, Lord. London, 1751. p. 9.

BONGIE, L. L. David Hume: Prophet of the Counter Revolution. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965.

FORBES, D. Hume's Philosophical Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1975.

HOBBES. Leviatã. São Paulo: AbriI Cultural, 1979.

HUME. A Treatise of Human Nature. Selby-Bigge. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1967.

HUME. An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. Oxford: Clarendon Préss, 1957.

HUME. My own life. In: HUME.'The History of England. Londres: T. Cadell, 1978. p.5

HUME. The History of England. Londres: T. Caddell, 1778/Indianapolis: Libertu Classis, 1983. v. 1-6. cap. 1-71, p. 157.

KRAMNICK, I. Introduction. In: BOLlNGBROKE, LORD. Historical Writings. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1972. p. 88.

MONTESQUIEU, Do Espírito das Leis, São Paulo: Abril Cultural, 1979. t. 3, v. 21, p. 280.

ROUSSEAU, J-J. Emílio, ou da Educação. In: Obras Completas, Porto Alegre: Globo, 1962. p. 267.

VOLTAIRE. Fragments sur l’historie, Art. XII, " Mélanges Historiques". In: VOLTAIRE. Oeuvi'es Completes. Paris: Armand-Aubrée, 1830. v. 21-22, p. 47-9. 11

Published

2004-12-15

How to Cite

ALBIERI, Sara. David Hume philosopher and historian. Mediações - Revista de Ciências Sociais, Londrina, v. 9, n. 2, p. 19–36, 2004. DOI: 10.5433/2176-6665.2004v9n2p19. Disponível em: https://ojs.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/mediacoes/article/view/9022. Acesso em: 21 nov. 2024.

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