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Contrasting Views of Liberty in Hume and Rousseau

Topic

The contrast between David Hume and Jean Jacques Rousseau on the nature of liberty is one of most enduring aspects of the eighteenth century. How can two thinkers who seem to cherish liberty and a free society have such different views of liberty?

The discussion of this question will take place over 6 Sessions.

Editions Used

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Accessed from http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/638 on 2007-11-29
• David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Accessed from http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/704 on 2007-11-29
• David Hume, The Natural History of Religion. By David Hume. With an Introduction by John M. Robertson (London: A. and H. Bradlaugh Bonner, 1889). Accessed from http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/340 on 2007-11-29
• David Hume, Enquiries Concerning the Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume, ed. L. A. Selby-Bigge, M.A. 2nd ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902). Accessed from http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/341 on 2007-11-29

Further Reading

For additional reading see the following:

1. School of Thought: The Scottish Enlightenment
2. School of Thought: The French Enlightenment
3. Author: J.-J. Rousseau (1712-1778)
4. Author: David Hume (1711-1776)

• Session I: Progress and Liberty in Rousseau

  We will begin our colloquium on the “Contrasting Views of Liberty in Hume and Rousseau” with a discussion in Session I of Rousseau’s Discourse on the Arts and Sciences.

  Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Chapter: A DISCOURSE ON THE MORAL EFFECTS OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES Decipimur specie recti. — Horace.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/638/71081 on 2007-11-30

• Session II: Progress and Liberty in Hume, Reading 1

  In this session we will discuss 3 of Hume’s Essays beginning with “Of the Rise and Progress of the Arts and Science”.

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY XIV: OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137504 on 2007-11-30

• Session II: Progress and Liberty in Hume, Reading 2

  The second of Hume’s essays - this one “Of Commerce.”.

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY I: OF COMMERCE

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137526 on 2007-11-30

• Session II: Progress and Liberty in Hume, Reading 3

  The third of Hume’s essays - “Of Refinement in the Arts.”

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY II: OF REFINEMENT IN THE ARTS

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137528 on 2007-11-30

• Session III: Liberty, the Social Contract, and Consent, Reading 1

  In Session III we will compare and contrast Rousseau’s and Hume’s view of the original contract beginning with Book I of Rousseau’s *Social Contract.”

  Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Chapter: BOOK I

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/638/70979 on 2007-11-30

• Session III: Liberty, the Social Contract, and Consent, Reading 2

  Now the 1st of Hume’s essays on government - “Of the First Principles of Government.”

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY IV: OF THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137484 on 2007-11-30

• Session III: Liberty, the Social Contract, and Consent, Reading 3

  The 2nd of Hume’s essays on government - “Of the Origin of Government.”

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY V: OF THE ORIGIN OF GOVERNMENT

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137486 on 2007-11-30

• Session III: Liberty, the Social Contract, and Consent, Reading 4

  The 3rd of Hume’s essays on government - “Of the Original Contract.”

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY XII: OF THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137548 on 2007-11-30

• Session IV: Political Institutions and Liberty, Reading 1

  In Session IV we will compare Rousseau’s and Hume’s views of political institutions and their relationship to liberty, beginning again with Rousseau - Chapters 1-6 of Book II of The Social Contract.

  Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Chapter: BOOK II

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/638/70998 on 2007-11-30

• Session IV: Political Institutions and Liberty, Reading 2

  Read Chapters 12-15 of Book III of The Social Contract.

  Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Chapter: BOOK III

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/638/71023 on 2007-11-30

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Chapter: BOOK III

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/638/71023 on 2007-11-30

• Session IV: Political Institutions and Liberty, Reading 3

  Read Chapter I of Book IV of The Social Contract.

  Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Chapter: CHAPTER I: that the general will is indestructible

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/638/71061 on 2007-11-30

• Session IV: Political Institutions and Liberty, Reading 4

  We now turn to Hume and 4 more of His Essays beginning with “That politics may be reduced to a Science.”

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY III: THAT POLITICS MAY BE REDUCED TO A SCIENCE

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137482 on 2007-11-30

• Session IV: Political Institutions and Liberty, Reading 5

  Hume on “The Independency of Parliament.”

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY VI: OF THE INDEPENDENCY OF PARLIAMENT

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137488 on 2007-11-30

• Session IV: Political Institutions and Liberty, Reading 6

  Hume on political parties.

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY VIII: OF PARTIES IN GENERAL

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137492 on 2007-11-30

• Session IV: Political Institutions and Liberty, Reading 7

  Hume on obedience to authority.

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY XIII: OF PASSIVE OBEDIENCE

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137550 on 2007-11-30

• Session V: Religion and Free Government, Reading 1

  Here we will examine Rousseau’s and Hume’s views on the relationship between religion and free government beginning with Rousseau. Read Chapter 8 of Book IV of The Social Contract.

  Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract and Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, translated with an Introduction by G.D. H. Cole (London and Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1923). Chapter: CHAPTER VIII: civil religion

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/638/71075 on 2007-11-30

• Session V: Religion and Free Government, Reading 2

  Next, turn to Hume on The Natural History of Religion.

  David Hume, The Natural History of Religion. By David Hume. With an Introduction by John M. Robertson (London: A. and H. Bradlaugh Bonner, 1889). Chapter: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF RELIGION.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/340/44333 on 2007-11-30

• Session V: Religion and Free Government, Reading 3

  From Hume’s Essays - “Of Superstition and Enthusiasm.”

  David Hume, Essays Moral, Political, Literary, edited and with a Foreword, Notes, and Glossary by Eugene F. Miller, with an appendix of variant readings from the 1889 edition by T.H. Green and T.H. Grose, revised edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1987). Chapter: ESSAY X: OF SUPERSTITION AND ENTHUSIASM

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/704/137496 on 2007-11-30

• Session VI: Moral Judgment and Responsibility

  From Hume’s Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.

  David Hume, Enquiries Concerning the Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume, ed. L. A. Selby-Bigge, M.A. 2nd ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902). Chapter: A DIALOGUE.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/341/62016 on 2007-11-30