Discover David Hume’s foundational philosophical work, ‘An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding’, and read the complete text online for free.
Published in 1748, David Hume’s An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding is a masterpiece of Enlightenment philosophy and one of the most influential works ever written on the nature of human thought. A more polished and accessible version of the arguments from his earlier, larger A Treatise of Human Nature, the Enquiry systematically investigates the origins and limits of our knowledge. Hume’s radical empiricism argues that all human ideas ultimately derive from sense impressions. From this starting point, he launches a devastating critique of metaphysics, challenging our notions of causation, necessity, and the self.
The Enquiry is famous for its clear, elegant prose and its relentless logical pursuit. Hume questions how we can justify our belief that the future will resemble the past (the problem of induction), argues that our idea of cause and effect is based on nothing more than constant conjunction and mental habit, and casts profound doubt on rationalist philosophy and speculative religion. His “fork” divides all meaningful statements into matters of fact (based on experience) and relations of ideas (like mathematics), dismissing anything else as “sophistry and illusion.” This slim volume lays the groundwork for modern scientific skepticism and continues to challenge philosophers, scientists, and anyone who thinks deeply about how we know what we know.
On this page, you can engage with this cornerstone of Western thought. We offer the complete 1748 Enquiry for online reading.
Book Info
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding |
| Author | David Hume |
| Year of Publication | 1748 |
| Genre | Philosophy, Empiricism, Epistemology |
| Language | English |
| Legal Status | Public Domain |
| Format | Online Reading |
Read An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Online
Question the foundations of your knowledge. Begin this transformative philosophical work by exploring the first sections interactively below.
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About An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Hume’s work is a paradigm of philosophical clarity, using logical analysis to map the boundaries of human cognition.
The Empiricist Foundation
All contents of the mind are traced back to either “Impressions” (lively sensory or emotional experiences) or “Ideas” (the fainter copies of those impressions in thought). This simple principle becomes a powerful tool for critiquing abstract concepts that lack an empirical basis.
The Problem of Causation
Hume’s most famous contribution. He argues we never perceive a necessary “cause” in events; we only see one event constantly conjoined with another. Our belief in causation is a product of custom and habit of the mind, not logical deduction. This “skeptical solution” revolutionized philosophy of science.
Skepticism and Moderation
While profoundly skeptical of metaphysics and theology, Hume advocates for a mitigated skepticism in practical life. We cannot help but rely on induction and causation, so we should do so, but with an awareness of their psychological, not logical, foundation.
The “Fork”
Hume’s divide: “All the objects of human reason or enquiry may naturally be divided into two kinds, to wit, Relations of Ideas and Matters of Fact.” This logical positivist stance aims to clear the philosophical landscape of unanswerable questions.
On Miracles
In a famous and controversial section, Hume argues that no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle unless the falsehood of that testimony would be more miraculous than the event it describes—a cornerstone of historical and scientific evidential reasoning.
Why Read the Enquiry Today?
It is the essential starting point for understanding modern philosophy, cognitive science, and the philosophy of science. Its questions about the basis of scientific reasoning, the nature of belief, and the limits of knowledge are as urgent in the 21st century as they were in the 18th.
FAQ
Is this book too difficult for a beginner in philosophy?
It is one of the best starting points. Hume writes with exceptional clarity and uses vivid examples. While the ideas are deep, the prose is accessible to a determined reader.
What is the difference between the Treatise and the Enquiry?
The Enquiry is shorter, more polished, and omits some of the more complex psychological machinery of the Treatise. Hume himself considered it the superior presentation of his philosophy.
Is Hume an atheist?
He was likely a skeptic or agnostic. The Enquiry does not argue for atheism directly but systematically undermines the rational and evidential foundations for religious belief, particularly in the sections on miracles and design.
How did people react to this book in its time?
It was controversial and largely ignored upon publication, as Hume feared. Its immense influence grew in the following centuries, impacting thinkers like Kant (who said Hume woke him from his “dogmatic slumber”), and modern analytic philosophy.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes. Its structure as a series of connected essays makes it suitable for reading and pondering in sections on any device.