2.1 — Hume & Smith the Philosopher ECON 452 • History of Economic Thought • Fall 2020 Ryan Safner Assistant Professor of Economics safner@hood.edu ryansafner/thoughtF20 thoughtF20.classes.ryansafner.com Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Outline The Scottish Enlightenment David Hume Adam Smith the Philosopher: Theory of Moral Sentiments Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
The Scottish Enlightenment Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
The Scottish Enlightenment At the turn of the 18 th century, Scotland was one of the poorest and most backward corners of Europe England about 5x more populous and 36x as wealthy By the end of the 18 th century, Scotland is the center of European science, enlightenment, & commerce Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
The Scottish Enlightenment Acts of Union 1707, unite England & Scotland as United Kingdom The best education system in the world Scotland had twice as many universities than England (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, St. Andrews) Adam Smith: Oxford & Cambridge had “all but given up the pretense of teaching” Reformers in the Presbyterian Kirk (Church of Scotland) Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
The Scottish Enlightenment: Edinburgh is Awesome Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume One of the greatest writers in the English language A giant in the history of thought and enlightenment philosophy, morality, science, economics, etc. 1739 A Treatise on Human Nature 1754-1762 The History of England 1741 Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary 1748 An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding 1751 An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals David Hume 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Hume as The Historian Writes 6 volume The History of England between 1754-1762 covers from the invasion of Julius Caesar to the Glorious revolution Viewed the history of England as a gradual quest for liberty emerging out of barbarism & oppression England at his writing had “achieved the most entire system of liberty that was ever known amongst mankind” Widely popular, was the standard history for centuries, made Hume David Hume independently wealthy intially greeted by outrage by all political factions 1711-1776 seemingly more Tory than Whig, but evolved over time denigrates religion as cause of problems Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Humean Philosophy Hume is one of the greatest empiricists (following Bacon, Hobbes, & Locke) Human nature and knowledge is derived from experience David Hume 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Humean Philosophy Epistemology : Hume is one of philosophy's greatest skeptics Sharply critical of religion, was an agnostic atheist But also critical about the use of pure reason & rationalism “Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions” “Hume's fork”: the distinction between facts (positive) David Hume and ideas/values (normative; a priori) Our reasoning is motivated by our psychology and 1711-1776 interests Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Humean Philosophy Hume's analysis of causality We never actually perceive causality, only “constant conjunction” of events how do we know with certainty that the sun will rise tomorrow? "there can be no demonstrative arguments to prove, that those instances, of which we have had no experience, resemble those, of which we have had David Hume experience." 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Humean Philosophy Defined the problem of induction : we can never prove causality or inductive knowledge (in the way deductive reasoning is a priori always true) This is what all of the philosophers of science (Popper, Kuhn, etc.) had to answer! Immanuel Kant: it was Hume who “awoke me from my dogmatic slumbers” David Hume 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Humean Moral Philosophy “Hume's guillotine” the is-ought gap Separation of positive and normative claims Can never prove an ought (normative) from an is (positive) “In every system of morality, which I have hitherto met with, I have always remarked, that the author proceeds for some time in the ordinary way of reasoning, and establishes the being of a God, or makes observations concerning human affairs; when of a sudden I am surprised to find, that instead of the usual copulations of propositions, is, and is not, I meet with no David Hume proposition that is not connected with an ought, or an ought not. This change is imperceptible; but is, however, of the last consequence. For as this ought, or 1711-1776 ought not, expresses some new relation or affirmation... the distinction of vice and virtue is not founded merely on the relations of objects, nor is perceived by reason. ” Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Morality Hume is a moral sentimentalist moral “truth” does not come from religion or reason, it comes from us moral principles come from our emotional responses to experiences and human relationships: “sympathy” [M]orality is determined by sentiment. It defines virtue to be whatever mental action or quality gives to a spectator the pleasing sentiment of approbation; and David Hume vice the contrary. 1711-1776 Hume, David, 1751, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Morality Humean sympathy facilitates transfer of emotion from one person to another an “emotional contagion” Our sympathy-based sentiments motivate us towards non- selfish goals, providing for the utility of others We aim for the approbation of others and avoid the David Hume castigation of others 1711-1776 Hume, David, 1751, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Morality Morality as disinterested sentiments that correct for personal biases Must adopt the “general” or “common point of view” Consider actions or character traits from a disinterested outside observer with full information Dependent on culture, experience, and habit David Hume Smith is also a sentimentalist, adapts & extends Hume 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Morality Contrast and reject “virtues” propounded by religion & moralists: Celibacy, fasting, penance, mortification, self-denial, humility, silence, solitude, and the whole train of monkish virtues...are...everywhere rejected by men of sense, but because they serve to no manner of purpose; neither advance a man's fortune in the world, nor render him a more valuable member of society; neither qualify him for the entertainment of company, nor increase his power of self-enjoyment? We observe, on the David Hume contrary, that they cross all these desirable ends; stupify the understanding and harden the heart, obscure the fancy and sour 1711-1776 the temper. We justly, therefore, transfer them to the opposite column, and place them in the catalogue of vices... Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Political Theory “ [T]he rules of equity or justice depend entirely on the particular state and condition , in which men are placed, and owe their origin and existence to that UTILITY , which results to the public from their strict and regular observance. Justifies this by a series of thought experiments (models) “The common situation of society is a medium amidst all these extremes. We are naturally partial to ourselves, and to our friends; but are capable of learning the advantage resulting from a more equitable conduct. Few enjoyments are given us from the open and liberal hand of nature; but by art, labour, and David Hume industry, we can extract them in great abundance. Hence the ideas of property become necessary in all civil society : Hence justice derives its usefulness to the public: And hence alone arises its merit and moral obligation .” 1711-1776 Hume, David, 1751, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Political Theory But although men can maintain a small uncultivated society without government, they can’t possibly maintain a society of any kind without justice, i.e. without obeying the three fundamental laws concerning the stability of ownership, its transfer by consent, and the keeping of promises. Hume, David, 1751, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals David Hume 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Political Theory Unlike Locke, does not believe that property is a natural right, dependent on the circumstances Property is justified because of scarcity in the real world Hume, David, 1751, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals David Hume 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
David Hume: On Political Economy In terms of the history of economic thought, Hume bridges the gap between the mercantilists & the Classical Economists Demonstrates several fallacies of mercantilism & provides brilliant defenses of free trade Expands upon Locke's quantity theory of money David Hume 1711-1776 Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
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