1711 – 1776
David Hume (1711–1776) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and historian, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Western philosophy. He developed a rigorous empiricist epistemology grounded in impressions and ideas, and applied systematic skeptical analysis to causation, personal identity, and religious belief. His critiques of miracles, natural theology, and inductive reasoning remain foundational challenges in philosophy of religion and epistemology.
Developed the problem of induction, challenging the rational justification of cause-and-effect reasoning
Articulated the is-ought problem (Hume's guillotine), distinguishing descriptive from normative claims
Critiqued arguments for miracles and natural theology in the Enquiry and Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
Advanced a bundle theory of personal identity, denying a substantial self
Authored A Treatise of Human Nature, one of the most ambitious systematic works of modern philosophy