Description
Book SynopsisThe philosopher David Hume was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on April 26, 1711. Known for his re-thinking of causation, morality, and religion, Hume has left a lasting mark on history. James Madison, the "father" of the U.S. Constitution, drew heavily on Hume's writing, especially his "Idea of Perfect Commonwealth," which combated the belief at the time that a large country could not sustain a republican form of government. Hume's writing also influenced Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. This edition attempts a broader picture of Hume’s philosophy including more detail on the elements of his psychology, aesthetics, social and political philosophy as well as his legacy in contemporary topics of race, feminism, animal ethics, and environmental issues. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Hume's Philosophy contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 100 cross-referenced entries covering key terms, as well as brief discussions of Hume's major works and of some of his most important predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about David Hume.
Trade ReviewThis second edition is not a complete revamping of the first (CH, Mar'09, 46-3594), but it is enough of an updating and expansion to warrant purchase by those who own the earlier edition. Merrill (Univ. of Oklahoma) was the sole author of the first edition, and here he is joined by Coventry (Portland State Univ.), who has put her stamp on the work by increasing the number of entries from 112 to 148; the page count from 350 to 373; and the pages in the bibliography from 71 to 99. New entries include important and relevant topics missing from the first edition—for example, aesthetics, beauty, convention (central to Hume’s philosophy), race, and sexual passion. The entry on women from the first edition is now split into two entries, one on feminism and one on women. . . The second edition is a few centimeters larger in size and is printed on more attractive, cream-colored paper, which makes it easier to hold and more pleasant to read. This will be a helpful and welcome study aid for anyone seeking to learn and understand the thought and life of one of the most significant modern philosophers in the Western tradition. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *
