Interpreting Hume's moral sentimentalism
Ethical thought as presented by Hume is a source of inspiration, yet the way it is interpreted is often conflicting. In response to this, the EU-funded HUMVIRET (Hume's ethics of virtue: Sentiments, character, and reflection) project is examining Hume's ethical thought in its purest form of sentimentalism. That is, through the passions of human nature rather than reason or external moral reality. With an interdisciplinary approach, an extensive study of Hume's texts as well as a thorough read of secondary literature by scholars was used to look at ethical solutions of sentimentalism. This included looking closely at the nature of ethical normativity, motivation and moral agents. As a result, a normative theory emerged and a monograph-length study has been proposed. The work has been presented in conferences, workshops and seminars throughout the world, and publications have appeared in international journals. This will be of interest to a general audience as well as to contemporary moral and political philosophers and historians.
Keywords
Moral sentimentalism, David Hume, human nature, moral psychology, ethics of virtue
