This is the first critical edition ever produced of Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary by David Hume, who is widely widely considered to be the most important British philosopher and an author celebrated for his moral, political, historical, and literary works. The editors' Introduction is primarily historical and written for advanced students and scholars from many disciplines. It is neither an orientation to Hume's philosophy nor an introduction aimed at philosophers. It is not an attempt to interpret Hume's text, but rather discusses the genesis, revision, and reception of the essays, which went into many editions at the author's hand. The annotations provide information about Hume' s sources, allusions, and citations, as well as background facts pertinent to an informed reading of the essays. The primary goal is to aid readers in their interpretations of the text. This edition also includes a detailed commentary on Hume's essay 'On the Populousness of Ancient Nations', which will be of special interest to ancient historians.

The two volumes present a full critical edition, in every respect. They assemble a massive amount of historical and textual information never previously published. The editorial apparatus is comprehensive and includes extensive historical and bibliographical detail. The Clarendon Edition of the Works of David Hume as a whole is on the cutting-edge of editorial work in the history of great works in the eighteenth century.

This edition will quickly become a necessary addition to the library of any scholar who works on David Hume's Essays.

Tom L. Beauchamp, Georgetown University,Mark A. Box, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Tom L. Beauchamp is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University. His research interests are in the history of modern philosophy, in particular the works of David Hume. He is the editor of three previously published OUP volumes in The Clarendon Hume editions of the works of Hume, co-author with Alexander Rosenberg of Hume and the Problem of Causation, and has published scholarly articles on Hume in areas of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, and history of modern philosophy.

Mark A. Box is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He taught English literature at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 1990 through 2010. His research interests have been in Hume's writings and in bibliography.

VOLUME 1
Preface and Acknowledgments
Abbreviations and Short Titles
A Chronological Table of Hume's Lifetime
A Table of the Appearances of Hume's Essays from 1741 to 1777
A Note on the Texts
Withdrawn Essays Last Published in 1742
1. Of Essay Writing
2. Of Moral Prejudices
3. Of the Middle Station of Life
4. A Character of Sir Robert Walpole
Withdrawn Essays Last Published Between 1760 and 1768
1. Of Impudence and Modesty
2. Of Love and Marriage
3. Of the Study of History
4. Of Avarice
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary: Part 1
1. Of the Delicacy of Taste and Passion
2. Of the Liberty of the Press
3. That Politics may be reduced to a Science
4. Of the First Principles of Government
5. Of the Origin of Government
6. Of the Independency of Parliament
7. Whether the British Government inclines more to Absolute Monarchy, or to a Republic
8. Of Parties in General
9. Of the Parties of Great Britain
10. Of Superstition and Enthusiasm
11. Of the Dignity or Meanness of Human Nature
12. Of Civil Liberty
13. Of Eloquence
14. Of the Rise and Progress of the Arts and Sciences
15. The Epicurean
16. The Stoic
17. The Platonist
18. The Sceptic
19. Of Polygamy and Divorces
20. Of Simplicity and Refinement in Writing
21. Of National Characters
22. Of Tragedy
23. Of the Standard of Taste
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary: Part 2
1. Of Commerce
2. Of Refinement in the Arts
3. Of Money
4. Of Interest
5. Of the Balance of Trade
6. Of the Jealousy of Trade
7. Of the Balance of Power
8. Of Taxes
9. Of Public Credit
10. Of Some Remarkable Customs
11. Of the Populousness of Ancient Nations
12. Of the Original Contract
13. Of Passive Obedience
14. Of the Coalition of Parties
15. Of the Protestant Succession
16. Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth
The Index to Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects
A History of Hume's?Essays
A Bibliographical Schema of the Editions
European Book Translations of the Essays
Editorial Appendix of Emendations and Substantive Variants
Appendix 1: The Scotticisms Insert in Political Discourses
Appendix 2: The Dedication To the Reverend Mr. Hume in Four Dissertations
Appendix 3: Facsimile Reproductions
VOLUME 2
Abbreviations and Short Titles
Editors Annotations
Glossary
Biographical Appendix
Catalogue of Hume's References
Reference List
Editors Index to Volumes 1 and 2