Political Essays

David Hume is commonly known as one of the greatest philosophers to write in English. He was also one of the foremost political and economic theorists and one of the finest historians of the eighteenth century. His political essays reflect the entire range of his intellectual engagement with politics - as political philosophy, political observation and political history - and function as an extension of and supplement to works such as his Treatise of Human Nature and his History of England. The twenty-seven most important essays are presented in this fully annotated edition, together with excerpts from the History of England which illuminate their context. This major addition to the Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought will be of interest to students and scholars of politics, philosophy and the history of ideas.

• Presents the most important of Hume’s political essays • Important for a full understanding of his major treatises • This edition the first to provide a substantial interpretative introduction and thorough annotation

1. Of the liberty of the press; 2. That politics may be reduced to a science; 3. Of the first principles of government; 4. Of the origin of government; 5. Of the independency of Parliament; 6. Whether the British government inclines more to absolute monarchy, or to a republic; 7. Of parties in general; 8. Of the parties of Great Britain; 9. Of superstition and enthusiasm; 10. Of civil liberty; 11. Of the rise and progress of the arts and sciences; 12. Of national characters; 13. Of commerce; 14. Of refinement in the arts; 15. Of money; 16. Of interest; 17. Of the balance of trade; 18. Of the jealousy of trade; 19. Of the balance of power; 20. Of taxes: 21. Of public credit; 22. Of some remarkable customs; 23. Of the original contract; 24. Of passive obedience; 25. Of the coalition of parties; 26. Of the Protestant succession; 27. Idea of a perfect commonwealth; Appendix.