Live at the National Constitution Center

David Hume and the Ideas That Shaped America

Jan 30, 2024

Scottish philosopher David Hume's profound impact on shaping America is discussed by Angela Coventry, Dennis Rasmussen, and Aaron Alexander Zubia. Topics include Hume's influence on the Founding Fathers, his ideas on happiness and property, his political philosophy, religious skepticism, and the importance of distinguishing epistemology and politics.

59:21

Episode guests

Angela Coventry

Aaron Alexander Zubia

Dennis Rasmussen

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Hume's philosophical ideas, specifically his skepticism and emphasis on factions, influenced the thinking of Madison and Hamilton in shaping the US Constitution.

Hume's practical and pragmatic support for American independence aligned with figures like Hamilton, influencing the early stages of the movement towards independence.

Hume's support for commerce and its positive effects on society resonated with Hamilton's views on economic self-interest and the benefits of free trade.

Deep dives

Hume's Influence on the Founders

Hume's philosophical ideas and writings had a significant impact on the American founders, particularly figures like Madison and Hamilton. Hume's skepticism, liberalism, and pragmatic approach to politics resonated with their thinking. His emphasis on the inevitability of factions and the need for a well-constructed union influenced Madison's conception of factions in Federalist 10. Additionally, Hume's support for commerce and his belief that self-interest could serve the public good aligned with Hamilton's views on economic policy and the role of the executive. Hamilton also drew on Hume's ideas of government authority and the need for an energetic executive in Federalist 85. While Hume's writings were controversial and some founders like Jefferson had reservations about him, his ideas continue to shape American political thought and influenced the development of the US Constitution.

Introduction

5min

The Influence of David Hume on the Founding of America

12min

The Influence of David Hume on James Madison

30min

The Concept of Happiness and Its Relation to Property

2min

David Hume's Philosophy on Politics and Happiness

6min

David Hume's Religious Skepticism and its Impact on Politics

4min

Distinguishing Epistemology and Politics and Continuing the Conversation

2min

Called “a degenerate son of science” by Thomas Jefferson and a “bungling lawgiver” by James Madison, Scottish philosopher David Hume was cited so often at the Constitutional Convention that delegates seemed to have committed his essays to memory. Join Angela Coventry, author of Hume: A Guide for the Perplexed; Dennis Rasmussen, author of The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought; and Aaron Alexander Zubia, author of The Political Thought of David Hume as they discuss Hume’s philosophical legacy and its profound impact on the shaping of America. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Additional Resources

Angela Coventry, ed. A Treatise of Human Nature: Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects

Dennis Rasmussen, The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought

Aaron Alexander Zubia, The Political Thought of David Hume: The Origins of Liberalism and the Modern Political Imagination

National Constitution Center Town Hall program, Montesquieu and the Constitution

Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America

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