If you loved
A Treatise of Human Nature
David Hume · Book · 2003
You appreciate how A Treatise of Human Nature relentlessly strips away assumptions to examine the fragile foundations of human consciousness.
Films on the same thread
I Origins
Mike Cahill · Film · 2014
This film mirrors the empirical inquiry of A Treatise of Human Nature by forcing a confrontation between rigid scientific observation and the elusive nature of human spiritual experience.
I Swear
Kirk Jones · Film · 2026
Just as A Treatise of Human Nature deconstructs the self, this narrative examines how personal identity and resilience are shaped when navigating the complexities of the human condition.
Detachment
Tony Kaye · Film · 2011
The detachment depicted here reflects the skeptical distance found in A Treatise of Human Nature, where the observer struggles to reconcile objective knowledge with the weight of existence.
The Elephant Man
Film · 1980
This story challenges the prejudices of Victorian society, echoing how A Treatise of Human Nature invites you to look past social constructs to evaluate the reality of individuals.
Series on the same thread
The Century of the Self
Adam Curtis · Series · 2002
This documentary investigates the mechanisms of human desire, directly extending the psychological and behavioral theories that David Hume pioneered within A Treatise of Human Nature.
Merlí
Héctor Lozano · Series · 2015
Much like the intellectual rigor of A Treatise of Human Nature, this series uses the classroom as a laboratory to dismantle conventional thinking through persistent, unfiltered philosophical inquiry.
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
Carl Sagan · Series · 1980
Sagan mirrors the foundational empiricism of A Treatise of Human Nature by grounding our vast place in the universe within a structured, observationally based scientific framework.
Project Blue Book
David O'Leary · Series · 2019
This series captures the tension between skepticism and belief, a central theme in A Treatise of Human Nature, as investigators attempt to qualify unexplained phenomena through empirical evidence.
Podcasts on the same thread
Philosophize This!
Stephen West · Podcast · 2026
If you valued the historical impact of A Treatise of Human Nature, this podcast provides the necessary context to understand how these ideas forged our modern world.
Making Sense with Sam Harris
Sam Harris · Podcast · 2026
Sam Harris applies the same rationalist scrutiny found in A Treatise of Human Nature to contemporary moral dilemmas, prioritizing cognitive clarity over traditional or unexamined assumptions.
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Common questions
Is A Treatise of Human Nature a single volume?
No, A Treatise of Human Nature is not a single volume. It is a sprawling work originally published in three volumes between 1739 and 1740. The text represents David Hume's comprehensive effort to create an observationally grounded study of human nature.
What philosophical principles does A Treatise of Human Nature employ?
A Treatise of Human Nature employs John Locke's empiric principles. David Hume uses these principles to construct a theory of knowledge, which he then utilizes to evaluate various metaphysical ideas throughout the three-volume work.
Was A Treatise of Human Nature popular when it was first published?
A Treatise of Human Nature was actually unpopular in its own day. Despite this initial reception, the work has withstood the test of time and has had an enormous impact on subsequent philosophical thought.
What is the primary goal of A Treatise of Human Nature?
The primary goal of A Treatise of Human Nature is to form an observationally grounded study of human nature. By applying empiric principles to construct a theory of knowledge, David Hume provides a framework to evaluate metaphysical ideas.