# How does A Treatise of Human Nature develop the theme of Artificial Virtues and Justice?

> A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume

## 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

- [section-x-of-property-and-riches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/section-x-of-property-and-riches.md): 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/section-ii-moral-distinctions-derived-from-a-moral-sense.md): 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/part-ii-of-justice-and-injustice.md): 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/section-i-justice-whether-a-natural-or-artificial-virtue.md): 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/section-ii-of-the-origin-of-justice-and-property.md): 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/section-iii-of-the-rules-which-determine-property.md): 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/section-iv-of-the-transference-of-property-by-consent.md): 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_treatise_of_human_nature_se/chapters/section-v-of-the-obligation-of-promises.md): Promises are presented as an artificial virtue, invented for the convenience of society, similar to justice and property.

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