David Hume's Political Economy (Routledge Studies in the History of Economics)

Hume’s Political Discourses (1752) won immediate acclaim and positioned him as an authoritative figure on the subject of political economy. This volume of thirteen new essays definitively establishes the central place of political economy in Hume’s intellectual endeavor, as well as the profound and far-reaching influence of his theories on Enlightenment discourse and practice. A major strength of this collection is that the contributors come from a diverse set of fields – philosophy, economics, political science, history and literature. This promotes a comprehensive reading of Hume’s political economy, taking into account his entire set of writings and correspondence, in a way that captures his polymathic genius. Hume’s analyses of trade and commerce not only delve into the institutions of money and markets, but also human agency, the role of reason and the passions, manners and social mores. Hume sought general principles but also concrete applications, whether he grappled with the problem of economic development (Scotland and Ireland), with the debates on luxury consumption (France), or with the mounting public debt (England). This book is a key resource for students and researchers in the areas of economic and political philosophy, history of economic and political theory, and the history of ideas. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 8 Copyright......Page 9 Contents......Page 10 Author Biographies......Page 12 Introduction......Page 16 1 The Scottish Contexts for David Hume’s Political-Economic Thinking......Page 25 2 The Emergence of David Hume as a Political Economist: A Biographical Sketch......Page 46 3 Hume and Super.uous Value (or the Problem with Epictetus’ Slippers)......Page 64 4 Manners and Morals: David Hume on Civility, Commerce, and the Social Construction of Difference......Page 80 5 Hume’s Framework for a Natural History of the Passions......Page 101 6 An Arti.cial Virtue and the Oil of Commerce: A Synthetic View of Hume’s Theory of Money......Page 120 7 Temporal Dimensions in Hume’s Monetary Theory......Page 142 8 Fiction or Counterfeit?: David Hume’s Interpretations of Paper and Metallic Money......Page 161 9 David Hume on Canadian Paper Money......Page 183 10 French ‘‘New Politics’’ and the Dissemination of David Hume’s Political Discourses on the Continent, 1750–70......Page 196 11 Hume’s Political Discourses and the French Luxury Debate......Page 218 12 Constitution and Economy in David Hume’s Enlightenment......Page 238 13 The ‘‘Rich Country–Poor Country’’ Debate Revisited: The Irish Origins and French Reception of the Hume Paradox......Page 258 Bibliography of David Hume’s Works Cited in this Volume......Page 339 Bibliography......Page 342 Index......Page 384 Introduction / Carl Wennerlind And Margaret Schabas -- The Scottish Contexts For David Hume's Political-economic Thinking / Roger L. Emerson -- The Emergence Of David Hume As A Political Economist : A Biographical Sketch / Ian Simpson Ross -- Hume And Superfluous Value (or The Problem With Epictetus' Slippers) / Christopher J. Berry -- Manners And Morals : David Hume On Civility, Commerce, And The Social Construction Of Difference / Richard Boyd -- Hume's Framework For A Natural History Of The Passions / Till Grüne-yanoff And Edward F. Mcclennen -- An Artificial Virtue And The Oil Of Commerce : A Synthetic View Of Hume's Theory Of Money / Carl Wennerlind -- Temporal Dimensions In Hume's Monetary Theory / Margaret Schabas -- Fiction Or Counterfeit? : David Hume's Interpretations Of Paper And Metallic Money / C. George Caffentzis -- David Hume On Canadian Paper Money / Robert W. Dimand -- French New Politics And The Dissemination Of David Hume's Political Discourses On The Continent / Loïc Charles -- Hume's Political Discourses And The French Luxury Debate / John Shovlin -- Constitution And Economy In David Hume's Enlightenment / Paul Cheney -- The Rich Country/poor Country Debate Revisited : The Irish Origins And French Reception Of The Hume Paradox / Istvan Hont. Edited By Carl Wennerlind And Margaret Schabas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [324]-368) And Index. Hume s Political Discourses (1752) won immediate acclaim and positioned him as an authoritative figure on the subject of political economy. This volume of thirteen new essays definitively establishes the central place of political economy in Hume s intellectual endeavor, as well as the profound and far-reaching influence of his theories on Enlightenment discourse and practice. A major strength of this collection is that the contributors come from a diverse set of fields philosophy, economics, political science, history and literature. This promotes a comprehensive reading of Hume s political economy, taking into account his entire set of writings and correspondence, in a way that captures his polymathic genius. Hume s analyses of trade and commerce not only delve into the institutions of money and markets, but also human agency, the role of reason and the passions, manners and social mores. Hume sought general principles but also concrete applications, whether he grappled with the problem of economic development (Scotland and Ireland), with the debates on luxury consumption (France), or with the mounting public debt (England). This book is a key resource for students and researchers in the areas of economic and political philosophy, history of economic and political theory, and the history of ideas. Economics, Finance, Business & Industry Book Cover 1 Title 8 Copyright 9 Contents 10 Author Biographies 12 Introduction 16 1 The Scottish Contexts for David Hume’s Political-Economic Thinking 25 2 The Emergence of David Hume as a Political Economist: A Biographical Sketch 46 3 Hume and Super.uous Value (or the Problem with Epictetus’ Slippers) 64 4 Manners and Morals: David Hume on Civility, Commerce, and the Social Construction of Difference 80 5 Hume’s Framework for a Natural History of the Passions 101 6 An Arti.cial Virtue and the Oil of Commerce: A Synthetic View of Hume’s Theory of Money 120 7 Temporal Dimensions in Hume’s Monetary Theory 142 8 Fiction or Counterfeit?: David Hume’s Interpretations of Paper and Metallic Money 161 9 David Hume on Canadian Paper Money 183 10 French ‘‘New Politics’’ and the Dissemination of David Hume’s Political Discourses on the Continent, 1750–70 196 11 Hume’s Political Discourses and the French Luxury Debate 218 12 Constitution and Economy in David Hume’s Enlightenment 238 13 The ‘‘Rich Country–Poor Country’’ Debate Revisited: The Irish Origins and French Reception of the Hume Paradox 258 Bibliography of David Hume’s Works Cited in this Volume 339 Bibliography 342 Index 384 An impressive selection of contributions discuss and analyze Hume's contribution to economics, making for an indispensable volume