Skepticism and political factions in David Hume's essays

Abstract

This paper examines some of David Hume's political essays to argue that his skeptical strategy of moderating political factions consists not only in examining their arguments, but also in the display of distinctively skeptical rhetorical maneuvers. Thanks to these maneuvers, Hume manages to expose the real interests that originate partisan positions and dissolve the doctrines by which the factions attract their followers. Hume's strategy of political moderation constitutes a form of committed political action that rests on his science of human nature.