An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals


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David Hume, an eminent Scottish philosopher, historian, and essayist, explores the nature and foundation of Morals in this book, which was written as a popular summary of Book III in A Treatise of Human Nature. Hume states: “There has been a controversy started of late, much better worth examination, concerning the general foundation of Morals; whether they be derived from Reason, or from Sentiment; whether we attain the knowledge of them by a chain of argument and induction, or by an immediate feeling and finer internal sense; whether, like all sound judgement of truth and falsehood, they should be the same to every rational intelligent being; or whether, like the perception of beauty and deformity, they be founded entirely on the particular fabric and constitution of the human species.” (Excerpted from Section I – Of the General Principles of Morals) (Summary from the text and adapted from Wikipedia by lubee930) (5 hr 46 min)

Chapters

Section I. Of the General Principles of Morals 15:12 Read by Ruth Golding
Section II. Of Benevolence, Part I 5:39 Read by Ruth Golding
Section II. Of Benevolence, Part II 9:48 Read by Ruth Golding
Section III. Of Justice, Part I 22:05 Read by MorganScorpion
Section III. Of Justice, Part II 29:53 Read by MorganScorpion
Section IV. Of Political Society 12:08 Read by gscheids
Section V. Why Utility Pleases, Part I 13:16 Read by Lucas Boulding
Section V. Why Utility Pleases, Part II 29:16 Read by Lucas Boulding
Section VI. Of Qualities Useful to Ourselves, Part I 24:06 Read by Lucas Boulding
Section VI. Of Qualities Useful to Ourselves, Part II 12:27 Read by Lucas Boulding
Section VII. Of Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Ourselves 27:34 Read by Anthony Webster
Section VIII. Of Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Others 16:17 Read by MorganScorpion
Section IX. Conclusion, Part I 27:46 Read by Ruth Golding
Section IX. Conclusion, Part II 13:33 Read by Ruth Golding
Appendix I. Concerning Moral Sentiment 22:30 Read by MorganScorpion
Appendix II. Of Self-Love 22:48 Read by Anthony Webster
Appendix III. Some Farther Considerations with Regard to Justice 20:00 Read by MorganScorpion
Appendix IV. Of Some Verbal Disputes 21:44 Read by Amy Koenig