Hume’s Legacy and the Idea of British Empiricism

Hume’s legacy over the past two centuries has been structured primarily around the idea of “British Empiricism.” This way of categorizing Hume’s philosophy has largely shaped the way in which Hume’s key problems and contributions have been received and criticized. It is evident, nevertheless, that this general interpretation of Hume’s philosophy, as constructed around the idea of British Empiricism, is both philosophically and historically unconvincing. A more accurate and adequate interpretation of Hume’s philosophy, it is argued, rests with his fundamental concern with problems of religion and his irreligious aims and objectives. There is, therefore, a disconnect between (accurate) interpretation and (actual) legacy as it relates to Hume’s philosophy. The appropriate response to this situation is one that both challenges the accuracy and adequacy of this dominant interpretation, while, at the same time, giving due weight to Hume’s philosophical contributions and achievements as understood through the lens of “British Empiricism.”