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Chapter companions for A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume.

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  1. Chapter 1

    Epigraph

    The epigraph quotes Tacitus, expressing the rare fortune of times when one can think what one wants and say what one thinks.

  2. Chapter 2

    Advertisement

    In this brief advertisement, Hume explains that the present volumes cover only the understanding and passions, forming a complete chain of reasoning, and that he will proceed to morals, politics, and criticism if the public approves. He regards public approbation as his greatest reward and its judgment as his best instruction.

  3. Chapter 3

    A Treatise of Human Nature

    This foundational chapter introduces Hume's ambitious project: to apply the experimental method of reasoning to moral subjects, establishing a science of human nature. It sets the stage for a detailed examination of the origins, composition, and associations of our perceptions, beginning with the distinction between impressions and ideas.

  4. Chapter 4

    Book I: Of the Understanding

    This foundational chapter introduces Hume's empiricist philosophy, distinguishing between impressions and ideas, and establishing the principles of association that govern thought. It lays the groundwork for his skeptical inquiries into causality, the self, and morality.

  5. Chapter 5

    Part I: Of Ideas, Their Origin, Composition, Connection, Abstraction, etc.

    This chapter introduces the foundational principles of Hume's empiricism, distinguishing between impressions and ideas, and explaining how ideas are derived from impressions. It explores the division of perceptions into simple and complex, the role of memory and imagination, and the principles of association that connect ideas. Hume also addresses the nature of abstract ideas and the limits of thought, arguing that all ideas are ultimately rooted in sensory experience.

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  1. Chapter 6Section I: Of the Origin of Our Ideas
  2. Chapter 7Section II: Division of the Subject
  3. Chapter 8Section III: Of the Ideas of the Memory and Imagination
  4. Chapter 9Section IV: Of the Connection or Association of Ideas
  5. Chapter 10Section V: Of Relations
  6. Chapter 11Section VI: Of Modes and Substances
  7. Chapter 12Section VII: Of Abstract Ideas
  8. Chapter 13Part II: Of the Ideas of Space and Time
  9. Chapter 14Section I: Of the Infinite Divisibility of Our Ideas of Space and Time
  10. Chapter 15Section II: Of the Infinite Divisibility of Space and Time
  11. Chapter 16Section III: Of the Other Qualities of Our Idea of Space and Time
  12. Chapter 17Section IV: Objections Answered
  13. Chapter 18Section V: The Same Subject Continued
  14. Chapter 19Section VI: Of the Idea of Existence, and of External Existence
  15. Chapter 20Part III: Of Knowledge and Probability
  16. Chapter 21Section I: Of Knowledge
  17. Chapter 22Section II: Of Probability, and of the Idea of Cause and Effect
  18. Chapter 23Section III: Why a Cause Is Always Necessary
  19. Chapter 24Section IV: Of the Component Parts of Our Reasonings Concerning Cause and Effect
  20. Chapter 25Section V: Of the Impressions of the Senses and Memory
  21. Chapter 26Section VI: Of the Inference from the Impression to the Idea
  22. Chapter 27Section VII: Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief
  23. Chapter 28Section VIII: Of the Causes of Belief
  24. Chapter 29Section IX: Of the Effects of Other Relations and Other Habits
  25. Chapter 30Section X: Of the Influence of Belief
  26. Chapter 31Section XI: Of the Probability of Chances
  27. Chapter 32Section XII: Of the Probability of Causes
  28. Chapter 33Section XIII: Of Unphilosophical Probability
  29. Chapter 34Section XIV: Of the Idea of Necessary Connection
  30. Chapter 35Section XV: Rules by Which to Judge of Causes and Effects
  31. Chapter 36Section XVI: Of the Reason of Animals
  32. Chapter 37Part IV: Of the Sceptical and Other Systems of Philosophy
  33. Chapter 38Section I: Of Scepticism with Regard to Reason
  34. Chapter 39Section II: Of Scepticism with Regard to the Senses
  35. Chapter 40Section III: Of the Ancient Philosophy
  36. Chapter 41Section IV: Of the Modern Philosophy
  37. Chapter 42Section V: Of the Immateriality of the Soul
  38. Chapter 43Section VI: Of Personal Identity
  39. Chapter 44Section VII: Conclusion of This Book
  40. Chapter 45Book II: Of the Passions
  41. Chapter 46Part I: Of Pride and Humility
  42. Chapter 47Section I: Division of the Subject
  43. Chapter 48Section II: Of Pride and Humility, Their Objects and Causes
  44. Chapter 49Section III: Whence These Objects and Causes Are Derived
  45. Chapter 50Section IV: Of the Relations of Impressions and Ideas
  46. Chapter 51Section V: Of the Influence of These Relations on Pride and Humility
  47. Chapter 52Section VI: Limitations of This System
  48. Chapter 53Section VII: Of Vice and Virtue
  49. Chapter 54Section VIII: Of Beauty and Deformity
  50. Chapter 55Section IX: Of External Advantages and Disadvantages
  51. Chapter 56Section X: Of Property and Riches
  52. Chapter 57Section XI: Of the Love of Fame
  53. Chapter 58Section XII: Of the Pride and Humility of Animals
  54. Chapter 59Part II: Of Love and Hatred
  55. Chapter 60Section I: Of the Object and Causes of Love and Hatred
  56. Chapter 61Section II: Experiments to Confirm This System
  57. Chapter 62Section III: Difficulties Solved
  58. Chapter 63Section IV: Of the Love of Relations
  59. Chapter 64Section V: Of Our Esteem for the Rich and Powerful
  60. Chapter 65Section VI: Of Benevolence and Anger
  61. Chapter 66Section VII: Of Compassion
  62. Chapter 67Section VIII: Of Malice and Envy
  63. Chapter 68Section IX: Of the Mixture of Benevolence and Anger with Compassion and Malice
  64. Chapter 69Section X: Of Respect and Contempt
  65. Chapter 70Section XI: Of the Amorous Passion, or Love Betwixt the Sexes
  66. Chapter 71Section XII: Of the Love and Hatred of Animals
  67. Chapter 72Part III: Of the Will and Direct Passions
  68. Chapter 73Section I: Of Liberty and Necessity
  69. Chapter 74Section II: The Same Subject Continued
  70. Chapter 75Section III: Of the Influencing Motives of the Will
  71. Chapter 76Section IV: Of the Causes of the Violent Passions
  72. Chapter 77Section V: Of the Effects of Custom
  73. Chapter 78Section VI: Of the Influence of the Imagination on the Passions
  74. Chapter 79Section VII: Of Contiguity and Distance in Space and Time
  75. Chapter 80Section VIII: The Same Subject Continued
  76. Chapter 81Section IX: Of the Direct Passions
  77. Chapter 82Section X: Of Curiosity, or the Love of Truth
  78. Chapter 83Book III: Of Morals
  79. Chapter 84Part I: Of Virtue and Vice in General
  80. Chapter 85Section I: Moral Distinctions Not Derived from Reason
  81. Chapter 86Section II: Moral Distinctions Derived from a Moral Sense
  82. Chapter 87Part II: Of Justice and Injustice
  83. Chapter 88Section I: Justice, Whether a Natural or Artificial Virtue?
  84. Chapter 89Section II: Of the Origin of Justice and Property
  85. Chapter 90Section III: Of the Rules Which Determine Property
  86. Chapter 91Section IV: Of the Transference of Property by Consent
  87. Chapter 92Section V: Of the Obligation of Promises
  88. Chapter 93Section VI: Some Farther Reflections Concerning Justice and Injustice
  89. Chapter 94Section VII: Of the Origin of Government
  90. Chapter 95Section VIII: Of the Source of Allegiance
  91. Chapter 96Section IX: Of the Measures of Allegiance
  92. Chapter 97Section X: Of the Objects of Allegiance
  93. Chapter 98Section XI: Of the Laws of Nations
  94. Chapter 99Section XII: Of Chastity and Modesty
  95. Chapter 100Part III: Of the Other Virtues and Vices
  96. Chapter 101Section I: Of the Origin of the Natural Virtues and Vices
  97. Chapter 102Section II: Of Greatness of Mind
  98. Chapter 103Section III: Of Goodness and Benevolence
  99. Chapter 104Section IV: Of Natural Abilities
  100. Chapter 105Section V: Some Farther Reflections Concerning the Natural Virtues
  101. Chapter 106Section VI: Conclusion of This Book
  102. Chapter 107Appendix
  103. Chapter 108Endnotes