The end of empire and the death of religion : a reconsideration of Hume's later political thought

In Ruth Savage (ed.), Philosophy and religion in Enlightenment Britain: new case studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2012)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

This essay reconsiders David Hume’s thinking on the fate of the British Empire and the future of established religion. It provides a detailed reconstruction of the development of Hume’s views on Britain’s successive attempts to impose or regain its authority over its North American colonies and compares these views with the stance taken during the American Crisis by Adam Smith and Josiah Tucker. Fresh light is shed on this area of Hume’s later political thought by a new letter, appended to the essay, which at the same time provides an illuminating glimpse of his abiding preoccupation with the future of established religion. It is argued that this evidence of Hume’s privately held views belies the notion that his thinking on political and religious matters was fundamentally opposed to that of his friends among the philosophes. It is consequently misleading to regard Hume as an opponent of the more radical wing of the Enlightenment.

Author's Profile

Moritz Baumstark
Martin Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-02-24

Downloads
458 (#50,266)

6 months
94 (#59,689)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?