A Treatise of Human Nature
Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental Method of Reasoning Into Moral Subjects
A Treatise of Human Nature was published in 1739 and 1740, when David Hume was not yet thirty, and it fell, as he said, dead-born from the press. It is nonetheless the fullest statement of his philosophy. The first book examines the understanding: how ideas arise from impressions, why we believe in cause and effect when experience shows us only constant conjunction, and what happens to the self and the external world under skeptical scrutiny. The second treats the passions, and the third argues that morality is founded on sentiment rather than reason, with justice as an artificial virtue built up from convention. Hume later rewrote the material more gently in his Enquiries, but the Treatise is where the arguments live. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about A Treatise of Human Nature
A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read A Treatise of Human Nature online?
Yes. A Treatise of Human Nature opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
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The first chapter of A Treatise of Human Nature is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is A Treatise of Human Nature in the public domain?
Yes. A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read A Treatise of Human Nature?
About 14 h 59 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is A Treatise of Human Nature?
A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
