Introduction

A Treatise of Human Nature isthefirstworkeverpublishedbyDavid Hume, a man who revolutionized our understanding of philosophy. Hume was an advocate of the skeptical school of philosophy and a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. He looks at the nature of human experience and cognition, showing that philosophy and reasoncanonlybereflectionsofournature.Thenaturalisticscience ofmanthatHumeexpressesinthisworkformsthefoundationforall later philosophical inquiry. Kant gave Hume credit for “awakening [him] from his dogmatic slumber.” With this influence alone, Hume initiatedtheclearestcritiqueof reasonthatWesterncivilizationhas producedinthehistoryofphilosophy. Hume’s wok formed the psychological foundation for modern psychology.Heshowedthelimitsandproperapplicationofreasonin human life. He also examined the passions and morality, showing howtheyariseinhumanexperience,andhowtheyareconnectedto both reason and action. In essence, A Treatise of Human Understanding is a thorough, well considered, and inspired examination of human psychology and the implications that the structureof our thoughtand experiencehason our knowledge. The full narration of Hume’s text is preceded by a summary, which includes a biography, background information on the work, and an overview of the material covered. The summary also includes a synopsis and analysis of the text, as well as an examination of its historicalcontext,itssocialimpact,andthecriticismsitevoked.This work is suitable for students of philosophy, psychology, or for anyoneinterestedincomingtoadeeperunderstandingofthenature ofthemind.