Life and Correspondence of David Hume, Volume 1

Burton begins by exploring Hume's childhood and education, emphasizing his early fascination with philosophy, history, and human nature. Born in 1711 in Edinburgh, Hume came from a moderately wealthy family and showed early promise as a scholar. Despite pressure to pursue a more traditional career in law or business, Hume followed his passion for philosophical inquiry, which eventually led him to write his seminal works in epistemology and moral philosophy. The biography traces Hume's struggles to gain recognition for his work, particularly his early philosophical treatise A Treatise of Human Nature, which, though now celebrated, was initially met with indifference by the public and critics. Burton details how Hume, undeterred by the lack of immediate success, revised and clarified his ideas in subsequent works, such as An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding and An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, both of which established his reputation as a leading philosopher.