Section V. Why Utility Pleases, Part I

An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

by David HUME (1711 - 1776)

David Hume, an eminent Scottish philosopher, historian, and essayist, explores the nature and foundation of Morals in this book, which was written as a popular summary of Book III in A Treatise of Human Nature. Hume states: “There has been a controversy started of late, much better worth examination, concerning the general foundation of Morals; whether they be derived from Reason, or from Sentiment; whether we attain the knowledge of them by a chain of argument and induction, or by an immediate feeling and finer internal sense; whether, like all sound judgement of truth and falsehood, they should be the same to every rational intelligent being; or whether, like the perception of beauty and deformity, they be founded entirely on the particular fabric and constitution of the human species.” (Excerpted from Section I – Of the General Principles of Morals) (Summary from the text and adapted from Wikipedia by lubee930)

Listen next episodes of An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals:
Section VI. Of Qualities Useful to Ourselves, Part II , Appendix I. Concerning Moral Sentiment , Appendix II. Of Self-Love , Appendix III. Some Farther Considerations with Regard to Justice , Appendix IV. Of Some Verbal Disputes , Section IX. Conclusion, Part I , Section IX. Conclusion, Part II , Section V. Why Utility Pleases, Part II , Section VI. Of Qualities Useful to Ourselves, Part I , Section VII. Of Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Ourselves , Section VIII. Of Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Others