Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

by David Hume

18 chapters5h 46mEnglish1751

About this book

David Hume, an eminent Scottish philosopher, historian, and essayist, explores the nature and foundation of Morals in this book, which was written as a popular summary of Book III in A Treatise of Human Nature. Hume states: “There has been a controversy started of late, much better worth examination, concerning the general foundation of Morals; whether they be derived from Reason, or from Sentiment; whether we attain the knowledge of them by a chain of argument and induction, or by an immediate feeling and finer internal sense; whether, like all sound judgement of truth and falsehood, they should be the same to every rational intelligent being; or whether, like the perception of beauty and deformity, they be founded entirely on the particular fabric and constitution of the human species.” (Excerpted from Section I – Of the General Principles of Morals) (Summary from the text and adapted from Wikipedia by lubee930)

Chapters (18)

1Section I. Of the General Principles of Morals

912

2Section II. Of Benevolence, Part I

339

3Section II. Of Benevolence, Part II

588

4Section III. Of Justice, Part I

1325

5Section III. Of Justice, Part II

1793

6Section IV. Of Political Society

728

7Section V. Why Utility Pleases, Part I

796

8Section V. Why Utility Pleases, Part II

1756

9Section VI. Of Qualities Useful to Ourselves, Part I

1446

10Section VI. Of Qualities Useful to Ourselves, Part II

747

11Section VII. Of Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Ourselves

1654

12Section VIII. Of Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Others

977

13Section IX. Conclusion, Part I

1666

14Section IX. Conclusion, Part II

813

15Appendix I. Concerning Moral Sentiment

1350

16Appendix II. Of Self-Love

1368

17Appendix III. Some Farther Considerations with Regard to Justice

1200

18Appendix IV. Of Some Verbal Disputes

1304

Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

About this book

Chapters (18)

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