Hume's An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals: A Critical Guide (Cambridge Critical Guides)

"Hume considered his Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals to be one of his best works. In it he offers his most elegant and approachable account of the origins and scope of morality. With the hope of reaching a broad audience, he argues that morality is neither rigid nor austere, but is rather a product of sentiments that all human beings share, and which they are naturally inclined to recognize and act upon. In this Critical Guide, a team of distinguished scholars discuss each section of the Enquiry, its place in Hume's philosophy as a whole, and its historical context; their topics include the nature of morals, talents and moral virtues, benevolence, sympathy, and the sources of moral disagreement. The volume will be valuable for scholars and advanced students working on Hume"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half-title page Series page Title page Copyright page Contents Contributors Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1 The Nature of Morals Founded on the Human Fabric Chapter 2 The Pride of Pericles: Hume on Self-Love, Benevolence, and the Enjoyment of Our Humanity Chapter 3 Justice and Politics in the Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals Chapter 4 History, Context, and the Conventions of Political Society Chapter 5 “Why Utility Pleases”: A Surprising Source of Discord Chapter 6 Hume on Talents and Moral Virtues Chapter 7 Virtues Suspect and Sublime Chapter 8 Sympathy and the Sources of Moral Sentiment Chapter 9 Virtue and Moral Psychology in the Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals Chapter 10 Hume, Cicero, and the Ancients Chapter 11 Hume on Religion in the Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals Chapter 12 Moral Disagreement Bibliography Index This volume offers an in-depth overview of Hume's Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, one of the major texts of early modern philosophy. It analyses the work section by section and assesses its historical context and its place within Hume's philosophy as a whole.