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Graduate Program in Philosophy Dissertation FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PELOTAS Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Politics Post- Graduate Program in Philosophy Dissertation David Hume's Politics: a distinct reconciliation between Liberalism and Conservatism Celina Alcantara Brod Pelotas, 2020 Celina Alcantara Brod David Hume's Politics: a distinct reconciliation between Liberalism and Conservatism Dissertation presented to the post -graduate program in philosophy of the Federal University of Pelotas, as a partial requirement to obtain the title of Master in Philosophy Advisor: Evandro Barbosa Pelotas,2020 Universidade Federal de Pelotas / Sistema de Bibliotecas Catalogação na Publicação B863d Brod, Celina Alcantara BroDavid hume's politics : a distinct reconciliation between liberalism and conservatism / Celina Alcantara Brod ; Evandro Barbosa, orientador. — Pelotas, 2020. Bro86 f. BroDissertação (Mestrado) — Programa de Pós-Graduação em Filosofia, Instituto de Filosofia, Sociologia e Política, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 2020. Bro1. Conservatism. 2. Liberalism. 3. Habit. 4. Causality. 5. David hume. I. Barbosa, Evandro, orient. II. Título. CDD : 100 Elaborada por Simone Godinho Maisonave CRB: 10/1733 Celina Alcantara Brod David Hume's Politics: a distinct reconciliation between Liberalism and Conservatism Dissertation presented to the Post-graduate program in philosophy of the Federal University of Pelotas, as a partial requirement to obtain the title of Master in Philosophy Date of Defense: 27.04.2020 Examining Board: . Prof.Dr. Evandro Barbosa – Federal University of Pelotas - UFPEL (Advisor) Prof. Dr. Keberson Bresolin- Federal University of Pelotas - UFPEL Prof.Dr. Spartaco Pupo – University of Calabria - UNICAL To my children, Gabriel and Bruno Acknowledgments Even though writing a dissertation can sometimes be a lonely process, none of this would have been possible without the support and encouragement of some special people. I would like to thank my children for being considerate, they have encouraged me all the way through and patiently waited for my attention. I would like to thank my husband, who has always given me the support and the love I needed to dive into this study, I am conscious of the great debt I owe to him. I would like to thank my father for being supportive and believing in me. I would like to thank my mother who has read all my writings since the beginning, sharing with me her experiences and knowledge, and for not letting me give up. I would like to thank my advisor Evandro Barbosa, for trusting me and my work, and for his friendship and teachings. His support and orientation are key components of this dissertation. I would like to thank professors Spartaco Pupo, Flávia Chagas and Keberson Bresolin for kindly accepting my invitation to be members in the defense committee. I would like to thank all my philosophy professors at Federal University of Pelotas and the Philosophy post-Graduate department. Last, but not least, I would like to thank the taxpayers of this country and Capes for the financial support I received to carry out this research. “I believe in it, I answer for it, for the whole work of man really seems to consist in nothing but proving to himself every minute that he is a man and not a piano- key”. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground Abstract BROD, Celina A. David Hume's Politics: a distinct Reconciliation between conservatism and Liberalism, 2019.Dissertation – Philosophy, Institute of Philosphy, Sociology and Politics, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, 2020 Abstract: The aim of this dissertation is to argue that Hume's political theory can provide a theoretical procedural configuration that reconciles the skeptical principles of secular Conservatism in its form with the core values of Classical Liberalism in its content, To demonstrate the compatibility of conservative and liberal concepts within this framework, we will demonstrate the connections between Hume's formal principles and his substantive political ideas. This theoretical framework establishes criteria and limits to be considered in the articulation and justification of political arguments Causality and habit are key concepts for understanding Hume's explanation of conventions, his strong defense of moderation, and his critique of political rationalism. We aim to show that it is possible to systematize criteria for a prudent activity of governing in a theoretical framework that filters empirically consistent arguments from metaphysical ones. Keywords: Conservatism.Liberalism. Habit. Causality.David Hume Abbreviation for Hume’s Works It is a standard practice to refer to Hume’s texts using abbreviations, though not everyone uses the same abbreviations. I will adopt the single letter abbreviations with paragraph and section number to simplify the location of Hume’s passage. As this dissertation was originally written in English, I used Hume’s originals texts available on Hume Texts Online. Hume Texts Online is a free and open access collection of works by David Hume. The site is developed and maintained by Amyas Merivale, and the texts are edited by Amyas Merivale and Peter Millican. The site consists of every philosophical text that Hume published, in accurate editions that faithfully represent the original 18th century publications. DM Of the Dignity or Meanness of 1. Major works (in chronological order) Human Nature T Treatise of Human Nature CL Of Civil Liberty A Abstract of the Treatise El Of Eloquence L Letter from a Gentleman RP Of the Rise and Progress of the Arts E Enquiry Concerning Human and Sciences Understanding Ep The Epicurean M Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Sto The Stoic Morals Pl The Platonist P Dissertation on the Passions Sc The Sceptic N Natural History of Religion PD Of Polygamy and Divorces D Dialogues Concerning Natural SR Of Simplicity and Refinement in Religion Writing H History of England NC Of National Characters Tr Of Tragedy 2. Essays (as ordered in Miller’s ST Of the Standard of Taste standard edition) Co Of Commerce RA Of Refinement in the Arts DT Of the Delicacy of Taste and Mo Of Money Passion In Of Interest LP Of the Liberty of the Press BT Of the Balance of Trade PR That Politics may be reduced to a JT Of the Jealousy of Trade Science BP Of the Balance of Power FP Of the First Principles of Ta Of Taxes Government PC Of Public Credit OG Of the Origin of Government RC Of some Remarkable Customs IP Of the Independency of Parliament PA Of the Populousness of Ancient BG Whether the British Government Nations inclines more to Absolute OC Of the Original Contract Monarchy, or to a Republic PO Of Passive Obedience PG Of Parties in General CP Of the Coalition of Parties PGB Of the Parties of Great Britain PS Of the Protestant Succession SE Of Superstition and Enthusiasm IPC Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth IM Of Impudence and Modesty MP Of Moral Prejudices LM Of Love and Marriage MS Of the Middle Station of Life SH Of the Study of History CR A Character of Sir Robert Walpole Av Of Avarice Su Of Suicide EW Of Essay-Writing IS Of the Immortality of the Soul SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 8 2 THE CONSERVATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................................................. 16 2.1 Skepticism in politics .................................................................................................... 16 2.2 The Passionate and Inventive Nature of the Political Man ............................................. 27 2.3 Time Conventions and Hume’s Secular conservatism.................................................... 37 3 LIBERAL IDEAS ....................................................................................................... 48 3.1 Private Property: A Miraculous Invention ..................................................................... 48 3.2 Constitutional Governments and Freedom ..................................................................... 54 3.3 Commercial Societies and Civilization .......................................................................... 59 4 HUME'S CONSERVATIVE LIBERALISM ............................................................. 63 4.1 Liberalism and Common Life ........................................................................................ 63 4.2 Applying Moderation: Hume against extremism............................................................ 70 5 FINAL CONSIDERATIONS ..................................................................................... 76 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 79 1 INTRODUCTION Why associate David Hume's political theory with terms that are late to the author himself? What relevance is there in knowing where conservatism and liberalism are placed in his political doctrine? The answer to this question explains, to a great extent, the two main purposes of this work: first, to show that Hume's political thought, a landmark in the British Enlightenment tradition, should not be neglected, because it represents the final union of his epistemological and moral thesis. Secondly, to defend an attractive fitting of these two concepts within the theoretical structure of the Scottish empiricist. While investigating the relationship between these concepts, an underlying question will be considered throughout this study: how, after all, can novelty integrate the past and how does the past remain in the present without one preventing or damaging
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