A Treatise of Human Nature · Question
How does A Treatise of Human Nature develop the theme of Artificial Virtues and Justice?
Answer
A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume develops Artificial Virtues and Justice across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Justice is presented as an artificial virtue, arising from human conventions and self-interest rather than natural instinct, to stabilize property and society.
Hume references justice as potentially artificial, with property defined in relation to justice and moral equity.
Hume hints that some virtues may be artificial, and that the sense of virtue may be partly artificial, though he defers the full discussion.
The central theme of the chapter, arguing that justice is a human invention, not a natural instinct.
Evidence in the book
- Section X: Of Property and Riches
Hume references justice as potentially artificial, with property defined in relation to justice and moral equity.
- Section II: Moral Distinctions Derived from a Moral Sense
Hume hints that some virtues may be artificial, and that the sense of virtue may be partly artificial, though he defers the full discussion.
- Part II: Of Justice and Injustice
The central theme of the chapter, arguing that justice is a human invention, not a natural instinct.
- Section I: Justice, Whether a Natural or Artificial Virtue?
Hume argues that justice is an artificial virtue, arising from human conventions and necessity, not from natural motives.
- Section II: Of the Origin of Justice and Property
Justice is presented as an artificial virtue, established by convention to remedy the inconveniences of selfishness and limited generosity.
- Section III: Of the Rules Which Determine Property
Property is an artificial virtue, derived from conventions and rules of justice, not from natural instincts.
- Section IV: Of the Transference of Property by Consent
Property transfer by consent is an artificial virtue, established by utility and social convention rather than natural instinct.
- Section V: Of the Obligation of Promises
Promises are presented as an artificial virtue, invented for the convenience of society, similar to justice and property.
