A Treatise of Human Nature
by David Hume
- First published
- 1739
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"A Treatise of Human Nature" by David Hume is a philosophical work published between 1739-40. Inspired by Newton's scientific achievements, Hume seeks to apply experimental methods to human psychology. He argues that passions, not reason, drive human behavior and that our beliefs about cause and effect rest on habit rather than logic. Hume presents the famous problem of induction, defends sentiment-based morality, and controversially declares that "reason is, and ought only to be the slave to the passions." This foundational text challenges rationalist philosophy through empirical investigation.
- Knowledge, Theory of
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #4705. A Treatise of Human Nature on Wikipedia.
More free books by David Hume
About David HumeAn Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
Philosophical Works, v. 1 (of 4)
Hume's Political Discourses
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part A.
Philosophical Works, v. 2 (of 4)
Essays
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part E.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part D.
