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A Hobbist Tory: Johnson on Hume

A Hobbist Tory: Johnson on Hume Paul Russell My concern in this paper is both modest and limited. It is simply to draw the attention of Hume scholars to a largely neglected but nevertheless very interesting remark which Samuel Johnson passed about the Hobbist nature of Hume's political outlook. Furthermore, as I will show, Johnson's remark may also be interpreted as touching on matters of deeper and wider significance for an understanding of Hume's philosophy. The antagonistic relationship between Hume and Johnson is well documented. The principal source ofJohnson's hostility towards Hume was his disapproval of Hume's sceptical attitude to the Christian religion. That is, Johnson could not tolerate a man who had "so little scrupulosity as to venture to oppose those principles which have been thought necessary to human happiness." Similarly, Hume can hardly have found the dogmatic Christianity ofthe "Great Moralist" any more to his taste. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that Boswell reports that Hume often spoke of Johnson "in a very illiberal manner." The attitudes and opinions which these prominent figures ofthe eighteenth century entertained about one another are clearly of intrinsic interest. More importantly, however, their views in this regard shed considerable light on their overall historical http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Hume Studies Hume Society

A Hobbist Tory: Johnson on Hume

Russell, Paul
Hume Studies , Volume 16 (1) – Jan 26, 1990
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Hume Society
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Copyright © Hume Society
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1947-9921
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Abstract

Paul Russell My concern in this paper is both modest and limited. It is simply to draw the attention of Hume scholars to a largely neglected but nevertheless very interesting remark which Samuel Johnson passed about the Hobbist nature of Hume's political outlook. Furthermore, as I will show, Johnson's remark may also be interpreted as touching on matters of deeper and wider significance for an understanding of Hume's philosophy. The antagonistic relationship between Hume and Johnson is well documented. The principal source ofJohnson's hostility towards Hume was his disapproval of Hume's sceptical attitude to the Christian religion. That is, Johnson could not tolerate a man who had "so little scrupulosity as to venture to oppose those principles which have been thought necessary to human happiness." Similarly, Hume can hardly have found the dogmatic Christianity ofthe "Great Moralist" any more to his taste. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that Boswell reports that Hume often spoke of Johnson "in a very illiberal manner." The attitudes and opinions which these prominent figures ofthe eighteenth century entertained about one another are clearly of intrinsic interest. More importantly, however, their views in this regard shed considerable light on their overall historical

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Hume Studies – Hume Society

Published: Jan 26, 1990

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