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Author of the Treatise, explaining the scope and plan of the work.
A Treatise of Human Nature
The author and central figure, introducing his experimental method for moral philosophy.
Book I: Of the Understanding
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical system.
Part I: Of Ideas, Their Origin, Composition, Connection, Abstraction, etc.
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of ideas and impressions.
Section I: Of the Origin of Our Ideas
Author and narrator, presenting his empiricist theory of the origin of ideas.
Section II: Division of the Subject
Author of the Treatise, presenting the division of impressions and the rationale for beginning with ideas.
Section III: Of the Ideas of the Memory and Imagination
Author and narrator, presenting his empirical analysis of memory and imagination.
Section IV: Of the Connection or Association of Ideas
Author and narrator, presenting the principles of association of ideas.
Section V: Of Relations
Author and narrator, presenting the classification of relations.
Section VI: Of Modes and Substances
Author and narrator, presenting the argument against the idea of substance.
Section VII: Of Abstract Ideas
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of abstract ideas and distinction of reason.
Part II: Of the Ideas of Space and Time
The author and primary voice, presenting his philosophical arguments on the origin and nature of our ideas of space and time.
Section I: Of the Infinite Divisibility of Our Ideas of Space and Time
Author and narrator, presenting his argument against infinite divisibility.
Section II: Of the Infinite Divisibility of Space and Time
Hume presents arguments against infinite divisibility, using his empirical principle that clear ideas imply possible existence.
Section III: Of the Other Qualities of Our Idea of Space and Time
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical arguments.
Section IV: Objections Answered
Author and narrator, presenting arguments against objections to his system.
Section V: The Same Subject Continued
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical arguments on extension and vacuum.
Section VI: Of the Idea of Existence, and of External Existence
Author and philosopher, presenting his arguments on existence and external existence.
Part III: Of Knowledge and Probability
The author and primary philosophical voice, presenting arguments on knowledge, probability, and causation.
Section I: Of Knowledge
Author of the Treatise, presenting his classification of philosophical relations and the limits of knowledge.
Section II: Of Probability, and of the Idea of Cause and Effect
The author, who systematically analyzes the idea of causation, questioning its origin and necessary connection.
Section III: Why a Cause Is Always Necessary
Author and narrator, critically examining the principle that every beginning of existence requires a cause.
Section IV: Of the Component Parts of Our Reasonings Concerning Cause and Effect
Author of the section, presenting his theory of causal reasoning.
Section V: Of the Impressions of the Senses and Memory
Hume analyzes the distinction between memory and imagination, emphasizing the role of vivacity in belief.
Section VI: Of the Inference from the Impression to the Idea
Author and narrator, presenting his empirical analysis of causal inference.
Section VII: Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief
Author of the Treatise, presenting his analysis of belief.
Section VIII: Of the Causes of Belief
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of belief and its causes.
Section IX: Of the Effects of Other Relations and Other Habits
The author, presenting and defending his theory of belief against a potential objection.
Section X: Of the Influence of Belief
Author and narrator, presenting his system of belief and its effects.
Section XI: Of the Probability of Chances
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of probability and belief.
Section XII: Of the Probability of Causes
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical analysis of probability and causation.
Section XIII: Of Unphilosophical Probability
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical system on probability and belief.
Section XIV: Of the Idea of Necessary Connection
Author and narrator, presenting his doctrine on necessary connection.
Section XV: Rules by Which to Judge of Causes and Effects
Author of the Treatise, presenting rules for causal judgment.
Section XVI: Of the Reason of Animals
Presents the argument that animals share in reason and thought, and uses this to confirm his system of belief based on custom.
Part IV: Of the Sceptical and Other Systems of Philosophy
Central figure; presents his skeptical arguments and philosophical analysis.
Section I: Of Scepticism with Regard to Reason
Author and narrator, presenting arguments on skepticism and the nature of belief.
Section II: Of Scepticism with Regard to the Senses
Author and narrator, presenting his sceptical arguments regarding the senses and external existence.
Section III: Of the Ancient Philosophy
Author and narrator, analyzing the fictions of ancient philosophy.
Section IV: Of the Modern Philosophy
Author and narrator, presenting arguments against modern philosophy.
Section V: Of the Immateriality of the Soul
Author and narrator, presenting arguments against the notion of substance and the local conjunction of perceptions with matter.
Section VI: Of Personal Identity
Hume presents his skeptical argument against the idea of a simple and continuous self, describing the mind as a bundle of perceptions.
Section VII: Conclusion of This Book
The author reflects on his philosophical journey, expressing despair, isolation, and a commitment to a moderate skepticism.
Book II: Of the Passions
The author and primary investigator, presenting his theory of the passions.
Part I: Of Pride and Humility
The author and primary investigator, systematically analyzing the passions of pride and humility.
Section I: Division of the Subject
Author and narrator, presenting the division of impressions and outlining the subject of the treatise.
Section II: Of Pride and Humility, Their Objects and Causes
Author and primary philosopher, presenting the analysis of pride and humility.
Section III: Whence These Objects and Causes Are Derived
Author and narrator, analyzing the origin of pride and humility.
Section IV: Of the Relations of Impressions and Ideas
Author and narrator, presenting his theory on the association of impressions and ideas.
Section V: Of the Influence of These Relations on Pride and Humility
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of pride and humility.
Section VI: Limitations of This System
Author of the treatise, presenting limitations to his system of pride and humility.
Section VII: Of Vice and Virtue
Author and narrator, presenting his system on the causes of pride and humility.
Section VIII: Of Beauty and Deformity
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of pride and humility in relation to beauty and deformity.
Section IX: Of External Advantages and Disadvantages
Author and narrator, presenting the philosophical analysis of pride and humility in relation to external objects.
Section X: Of Property and Riches
Author and narrator, presenting the argument on property and riches.
Section XI: Of the Love of Fame
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical analysis of sympathy and its role in pride and humility.
Section XII: Of the Pride and Humility of Animals
Author of the section, presenting his hypothesis on pride and humility and extending it to animals.
Part II: Of Love and Hatred
The author and primary voice, presenting the philosophical inquiry into the passions.
Section I: Of the Object and Causes of Love and Hatred
The author and narrator, presenting his philosophical analysis of love and hatred.
Section II: Experiments to Confirm This System
The author conducting the experiments and reasoning about the passions.
Section III: Difficulties Solved
The author, presenting his philosophical analysis of the passions of love and hatred.
Section IV: Of the Love of Relations
Author and narrator, presenting the philosophical analysis.
Section V: Of Our Esteem for the Rich and Powerful
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical analysis of esteem for the rich and powerful.
Section VI: Of Benevolence and Anger
Author of the Treatise, presenting his philosophical analysis of the passions.
Section VII: Of Compassion
Author and narrator, presenting the argument that pity and malice are secondary passions derived from sympathy.
Section VIII: Of Malice and Envy
Author of the treatise, presenting his analysis of malice and envy.
Section IX: Of the Mixture of Benevolence and Anger with Compassion and Malice
Author of the Treatise, presenting his theory on the mixture of passions.
Section X: Of Respect and Contempt
Author of the section, presenting his analysis of respect and contempt.
Section XI: Of the Amorous Passion, or Love Betwixt the Sexes
Author and philosopher, presents his analysis of the amorous passion.
Section XII: Of the Love and Hatred of Animals
Author of the section, analyzing love and hatred in animals.
Part III: Of the Will and Direct Passions
The author and primary voice, presenting his philosophical arguments on the will and passions.
Section I: Of Liberty and Necessity
Hume presents his argument on liberty and necessity, defining the will and asserting that human actions are as necessary as natural events.
Section II: The Same Subject Continued
Author and primary voice, arguing for the doctrine of necessity and its compatibility with morality and religion.
Section III: Of the Influencing Motives of the Will
Author and narrator, presenting arguments against the preeminence of reason over passion.
Section IV: Of the Causes of the Violent Passions
Author of the Treatise, presenting his analysis of the causes of violent passions.
Section V: Of the Effects of Custom
Author of the section, analyzing the effects of custom on passions and perceptions.
Section VI: Of the Influence of the Imagination on the Passions
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical analysis of the imagination's influence on passions.
Section VII: Of Contiguity and Distance in Space and Time
Author of the Treatise, presenting his reasoning on the effects of contiguity and distance on the imagination and passions.
Section VIII: The Same Subject Continued
Authorial voice throughout, analyzing the effects of distance on passions and imagination.
Section IX: Of the Direct Passions
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of direct passions.
Section X: Of Curiosity, or the Love of Truth
The author, who analyzes the passion of curiosity and its origins.
Book III: Of Morals
The author, who is about to embark on an inquiry into the nature of morals.
Part I: Of Virtue and Vice in General
The author and primary philosophical voice, presenting the framework for moral inquiry.
Section I: Moral Distinctions Not Derived from Reason
Hume presents his argument that moral distinctions are based on sentiment, not reason, and introduces the is-ought problem.
Section II: Moral Distinctions Derived from a Moral Sense
Author and narrator, presenting the argument that moral distinctions are based on sentiment rather than reason.
Part II: Of Justice and Injustice
The author and primary voice, presenting the argument that justice is an artificial virtue.
Section I: Justice, Whether a Natural or Artificial Virtue?
Author and narrator, presenting the argument that justice is an artificial virtue.
Section II: Of the Origin of Justice and Property
Author and narrator, presenting his theory of justice as an artificial virtue.
Section III: Of the Rules Which Determine Property
Author and narrator, analyzing the rules of property and justice.
Section IV: Of the Transference of Property by Consent
Author and narrator, presenting the argument on property transfer.
Section V: Of the Obligation of Promises
Author and narrator, presenting the argument that promises are artificial and not natural.
Section VI: Some Farther Reflections Concerning Justice and Injustice
Author and narrator, presenting arguments for justice as artificial.
Section VII: Of the Origin of Government
Author and narrator, presenting the argument on the origin of government.
Section VIII: Of the Source of Allegiance
Author of the Treatise, presenting his argument on the source of allegiance.
Section IX: Of the Measures of Allegiance
Author of the section, presenting his argument on allegiance and resistance.
Section X: Of the Objects of Allegiance
Author of the Treatise, presenting his philosophical analysis of political allegiance and the principles of government.
Section XI: Of the Laws of Nations
Author of the section, analyzing the laws of nations and their relation to justice and morality.
Section XII: Of Chastity and Modesty
Author and narrator, presenting a philosophical analysis of chastity and modesty.
Part III: Of the Other Virtues and Vices
The author, presenting his philosophical analysis of virtues and vices.
Section I: Of the Origin of the Natural Virtues and Vices
Author and narrator, presenting his hypothesis on the origin of natural virtues and vices.
Section II: Of Greatness of Mind
The author who presents the argument, using 'I' and 'me' to guide the analysis of pride and humility.
Section III: Of Goodness and Benevolence
Author and narrator, presenting his philosophical account of moral approbation for benevolence.
Section IV: Of Natural Abilities
Author and narrator, presenting arguments on natural abilities.
Section V: Some Farther Reflections Concerning the Natural Virtues
Author and narrator, presenting reflections on the natural virtues.
Section VI: Conclusion of This Book
Hume concludes his ethical system, asserting sympathy as the foundation of moral distinctions.
Appendix
Hume reflects on his own theory, confessing difficulties with personal identity and correcting earlier errors.
Endnotes
Author of the Treatise, providing endnotes that clarify and defend his philosophical positions.
