Hume's Philosophical Politics [Paperback]

This is a study of Hume's political thought based on a survey of all his writings.This is a study of Humes political thought based on a survey of all his writings and is presented in its historical context as an innovative, philosophical, empirically based system of politics for a radical post-revolutionary age, and a political education for parochial, backward-looking party men.This is a study of Humes political thought based on a survey of all his writings and is presented in its historical context as an innovative, philosophical, empirically based system of politics for a radical post-revolutionary age, and a political education for parochial, backward-looking party men.This is a study of Hume's political thought based on a survey of all his writings in their original and revised versions, with full reference to the works of predecessors and contemporaries, including journalists, pamphleteers and historians. Hume's political thinking is presented in its historical context as an innovative, 'philosophical', empirically based system of politics for a radical post-revolutionary age, and a political education for parochial, backward-looking party men.Introductory preface; Abbreviations; Part I. The Foundations of Politics: 1. The experimental method in morals: the natural law forerunners; 2. A modern theory of Natural Law; 3. Political obligation for 'moderate men'; 4. Social experience and the uniformity of human nature; Part II. Philosophical Politics: 5. Scientific and vulgar Whiggism; 6. Applied philosophy, genuine and false: Hume and the Court and Country parties in 17411742; 7. The primacy of political institutions; Part III. Philosophical History: 8. The History of England: philosophical history as establishment history; 9. The limits of philosophical history; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.Review of the hardback: 'Mr Forbes succeeds admirably as Hume's philosophical politics is scrupulously analysed against the background of events and thought of his prl³1