The Life of David Hume

by Mossner, Ernest Campbell

• ISBN13: 9780199243365
• ISBN10: 0199243360
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-05-03
• Publisher: Clarendon Press

Summary

Mossner's Life of David Hume remains the standard biography of this great thinker and writer. First published in 1954, and updated in 1980, this excellent life story is now reissued in paperback, in response to an overwhelming interest in Hume's brilliant ideas. Containing more than a simplebiography, this exemplary work is also a study of intellectual reaction in the eighteenth century. In this new edition are a detailed bibliography, index, and textual supplements, making it the perfect text for scholars and advanced students of Hume, epistemology, and the history of philosophy. Itis also ideal for historians and literary scholars working on the eighteenth century, and for anyone with an interest in philosophy.

Author Biography

E.C. Mossner was formerly Professor of English at the University of Texas.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations and References	xix
PART I: STUDENT OF HUMANITY, 1711--1744	1	(150)
Man of Letters	3	(3)
Almost all my Life has been spent in literary Pursuits and Occupations
The Humes of Ninewells	6	(14)
I was of a good Family
Boyhood At Ninewells	20	(15)
Our Mother . . . devoted herself entirely to the rearing and educating of her Children
Student Days At Edinburgh	35	(17)
I passed through the ordinary Course of Education with Success
Law Versus Literature	52	(14)
While . . . [my Family] fancyed I was pouring over Voet and Vinnius, Cicero and Virgil were the Authors which I was secretly devouring
Disease of The Learned	66	(15)
I had no Hopes of delivering my Opinions with such Elegance & Neatness as to draw to me the Attention of the World
Recovery Through Catharsis	81	(11)
I was tempted or rather forced to make a very feeble Trial for entering into a more active Scene of Life
Tranquillity in France	92	(14)
I went over to France with a View of prosecuting my Studies in a Country Retreat
Fever of Publication	106	(11)
The Nearness & Greatness of the Event . . . made me more difficult to please
A Treatise of Human Nature	117	(17)
Never literary Attempt was more unfortunate. . . . It fell dead-born from the Press
Essays Moral and Political	134	(17)
I very soon recovered the Blow, and prosecuted with great Ardour my Studies in the Country
PART II: OBSERVER OF HUMAN NATURE, 1744--1749	151	(70)
Academic Illusion	153	(10)
Such a popular Clamour has been raised against me in Edinburgh, on account of Scepticism, Heterodoxy & other hard Names . . . that my Friends find some Difficulty in working out the Point of my Professorship
The Unfortunate Tutor	163	(14)
I have found in this whole affair, that some men are honest and sincere, and others not so
Spectator To A Rebellion	177	(10)
The present unhappy troubles
A Military Campaign	187	(18)
The Military . . . sent us to seek Adventures on the Coast of France
A Military Embassy	205	(16)
I . . . wore the Uniform of an Officer
PART III: DISTINGUISHED MAN OF LETTERS, 1749--1763	221	(186)
Achievement of Ambition	223	(9)
These Symptoms of a rising Reputation gave me Encouragement
Leisure and Laughter	232	(8)
I am in the Humour of displaying my Wit
Citizen of Edinburgh	240	(17)
I removed from the Countrey to the Town; the true Scene for a man of Letters
Political Discourses	257	(15)
It was well received abroad and at home
Pax Ecclesiastica	272	(14)
There is here a very good society of men of letters
The Opposition Gathers	286	(15)
I meet with many Answerers in this Countrey
The History of England	301	(18)
Every body writes me & tells me, that the Conspiracy of the Booksellers contributed very much to retard the Sale
Four Dissertations	319	(17)
Two Essays of mine . . . which from my abundant Prudence I suppress'd
Drum Ecclesiastic	336	(20)
They intend to give me over to Satan, which they think they have the power of doing
The Bard and The Church	356	(14)
Did you ever hear of such Madness & Folly as our Clergy have lately fallen into?
Scotland's Augustans	370	(20)
The People most distinguish'd for Literature in Europe
The Indifference of England	390	(17)
The Barbarians who inhabit the Banks of the Thames
PART IV: CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, 1763--1769	407	(150)
Scotland for Ever?	409	(14)
A man of letters in a remote country
The Call of France	423	(18)
My Situation was . . . the most wonderful Event in the World: I was now a Person clean & white as the driven Snow
The Adulation of France	441	(15)
They consider me as one of the greatest geniuses in the world
The Comtesse De Boufflers	456	(19)
You have saved me from a total indifference towards every thing in human life
The Philosophes	475	(14)
The seiks in the Rue Royale
Embassy Secretary	489	(18)
I am now possess'd of an Office of Credit
Jean-Jacques Rousseau	507	(26)
This nice little man
Under-Secretary of State	533	(24)
I am now, from a Philosopher, degenerated into a petty Statesman
PART V: ``SAINT DAVID OF SCOTLAND,'' 1769--1776	557	(52)
Autumnal Serenity	559	(18)
I returned to Edinburgh . . . very opulent, healthy, and though somewhat stricken in Years, with the Prospect of enjoying long my Ease and of seeing the Encrease of my Reputation
Disturbers of The Peace	577	(12)
That bigotted silly Fellow, Beattie
Death Comes for The Philosopher	589	(15)
I now reckon upon a speedy Dissolution
The Dignity of Human Nature	604	(5)
A manly steady virtue, . . . calm sunshine of the mind
APPENDICES	609	(14)
A Hume's My Own Life	611	(5)
B The Humes of Ninewells	616	(1)
C Rankenian Club	617	(1)
D William Warburton	617	(1)
E Cancels in Four Dissertations	618	(1)
F The Rousseau-Hume Affaire	619	(1)
G Hume's Removal from James's Court	620	(1)
H Naming of St David Street	620	(1)
I Posthumous Controversy over Hume	621	(2)
Textual Supplement	623	(22)
Authorities Cited	645	(8)
General Bibliography	653	(14)
Index	667