David Hume's theory of justice: an examination of the possibility of an instinctual concept of property and natural virtue of justice
Date
2015
Authors
Maimone, Charles L., author
Rollin, Bernard, advisor
Archie, Andre, committee member
Hickey, Matthew, committee member
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Abstract
In this work I argue that David Hume's classification of the virtue of justice as artificial is mistaken, and propose that the possibility of the existence of a natural virtue of justice should be taken seriously within Hume's moral framework. In the first chapter of this work, I present Hume's moral theory, with a focus on Hume's distinction between natural and artificial virtues. In the second chapter, I argue that Hume's certainty concerning the classification of justice as an artificial virtue is mistaken, and offer a positive account of the possibility of a natural origin, and ultimately a natural virtue of justice. In the third chapter I will entertain possible objections Hume might offer to my argumentation, and offer responses accordingly.
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Subject
Hume
natural
artificial
property
justice