Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
David Hume: The Philosopher as Historian
David Hume: The Philosopher as Historian | Nicholas Phillipson
4 posts | 1 read | 1 to read
A giant of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, David Hume was one of the most important philosophers ever to write in English. He was also a brilliant historian. In this book--a new and revised edition of his 1989 classic--Nicholas Phillipson shows how Hume freed history from religion and politics. As a philosopher, Hume sought a way of seeing the world and pursuing happiness independently of a belief in God. His groundbreaking approach applied the same outlook to Britain's history, showing how the past was shaped solely through human choices and actions. In this analysis of Hume's life and works, from his university days in Edinburgh to the rapturous reception of his History of England, Nicholas Phillipson reveals the gradual process by which one of the greatest Western philosophers turned himself into one of the greatest historians of Britain. In doing so, he shows us how revolutionary Hume was, and why his ideas still matter today.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
GingerAntics
Pickpick

Such a wonderful biography. It definitely digs into a side of Hume most, today, don‘t even know about - David Hume the historian. If you‘re interesting David Hume, Scotland, British history, or simply the early modern period, this is a great book. It‘s well written and quite accessible. #davidhume #nicholasphilipson #nonfiction #biography #historian #philosopher #history

blurb
GingerAntics
post image

I need to finish my second reading of this by the end of the week. I need to just do it already. #DavidHume #PhilosopherasHistorian #NicholasPhillipson

quote
GingerAntics
post image

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The problem of preserving civilisation is in “protecting the constitution from the ignorance and folly of a factious people who were only able to rise above their tribal party loyalties when aroused by xenophobia and religion.” Was Hume talking about 18th century Britain or prophesying 21st century America?

#DavidHume #biography #philosopherashistorian

1 like1 comment
quote
GingerAntics
post image

Hume wrote a six volume history, over a MILLION words long, to make people reflect “on the disastrous political misunderstandings that could arise when political opinions were corrupted by an inadequate understanding of history." #whyhistorymatters #NicholasPhillipson #DavidHume #Philosophy #history #philosopherashistorian #historian