Opti
@nucleardoorstop.myatproto.social
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Nuclear & DCS engineer, general purpose nerd.
I’m not here to “engage in dialogue” or “have a conversation” and all opinions are not equal.
Leave bw be or they’ll block us all. They owe us nothing.
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![From 1754 to 1762 Hume published The History of England, a six-volume work, that extends (according to its subtitle) "From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688." Inspired by Voltaire's sense of the breadth of history, Hume widened the focus of the field away from merely kings, parliaments, and armies, to literature and science as well. He argued that the quest for liberty was the highest standard for judging the past, and concluded that after considerable fluctuation, England at the time of his writing had achieved "the most entire system of liberty that was ever known amongst mankind". (189] It "must be regarded as an event of cultural importance. In its own day, moreover, it was an innovation, soaring high above its very few predecessors."(1901 Hume's History of England made him famous as a historian before he was ever considered a serious philosopher. In this work, Hume uses history to tell the story of the rise of England and what led to its greatness and the disastrous effects that religious fanaticism had on its progress. For Hume, the history of England's rise may give a template for others who would also like to rise to its current greatness. [151]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gtbezcmvsbvvpu4dgc4wnegb/bafkreictc4voqv3pw2wqqy5acl2n4vbrchv6lh5cytrkxnlpdtukeenifm@jpeg)
![As to the charge of racism, based on the footnote Hume appended to his essay "On National Characters" in 1753, 1661 and had amended as an endnote for a posthumous 1777 edition, 67] Hutton and Ashton acknowledge that its content is "especially shocking-and deeply puzzling". 681 Bailey describes it as "highly prejudicial speculation". 691 Fieser suggests that Kendra Asher's discussion 70] "is the only one to date suggesting that the footnote might not represent Hume's true views". [64] Fieser suggests that Asher's interpretation "must be taken seriously",
", but stresses the need to
"address head on" the indications that Hume both 'encouraged' and 'assisted' friends in the investment in a slave plantation. [64]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gtbezcmvsbvvpu4dgc4wnegb/bafkreihj6ptg4xn2ki6oq7l4hrgubmpbjpc4sbqqdtv7pgepblyc4cfjde@jpeg)
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