Hume's An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals: A Critical GuideEsther Engels Kroeker, Willem Lemmens Hume considered his Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals to be one of his best works. In it he offers his most elegant and approachable account of the origins and scope of morality. With the hope of reaching a broad audience, he argues that morality is neither rigid nor austere, but is rather a product of sentiments that all human beings share, and which they are naturally inclined to recognize and act upon. In this Critical Guide, a team of distinguished scholars discuss each section of the Enquiry, its place in Hume's philosophy as a whole, and its historical context; their topics include the nature of morals, talents and moral virtues, benevolence, sympathy, and the sources of moral disagreement. The volume will be valuable for scholars and advanced students working on Hume. |
Contents
Elizabeth S Radcliffe | 13 |
Hume on SelfLove Benevolence | 33 |
Justice and Politics in the Enquiry Concerning the Principles | 53 |
History Context and the Conventions of Political Society | 72 |
A Surprising Source of Discord | 93 |
James Fieser | 113 |
Virtues Suspect | 149 |
Sympathy and the Sources of Moral Sentiment | 161 |
Hume Cicero and the Ancients | 192 |
Hume on Religion in the Enquiry Concerning the Principles | 219 |
33 | 233 |
Moral Disagreement | 238 |
257 | |
263 | |
269 | |
the Principles of Morals | 172 |
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Common terms and phrases
actions admiration affections ancient appears Appendix approval argues argument arises authority beliefs benevolence calls cause chapter character Cicero circumstances claim common concern concludes consequences consider context courage criticism depends describes desire discussion distinction duties Enquiry enthusiasm EPM App evidence example experience explain fact feel force foundation given gives happiness human human nature Hume Hume’s ideas immediately agreeable important influence interest justice kind laws letter means merit mind moral moral judgments motive natural object observation offers original ourselves particular passage passions person philosophical pleasing pleasure political position practices present pride principle qualities question reason recognized references reflection regard relation religion religious role rules seems self-love sense sentiments shows social social virtues society suggests sympathy texts theory thought traits Treatise understanding utility vice virtues virtuous whole writes