Abstract

In this paper two main claims are presented. (1) Hume's theory of action, which was tailored to complement his Moral Philosophy perfectly, has independent strengths, and it is possible to defend Hume's arguments for the autonomy of desire and to show that Hume was being fully consistent in allowing reason to be a cause of action and also in arguing for his two theses. (2) A recurrent theme can be isolated in Hume's writings in which Hume, on the one hand, attempts to solve traditional philosophical problems by adverting purely to the role of sentiment, and on the other hand, wants to retain all the common sense criteria of truth and reasonableness. And the tension that appears to exist between Hume's views on the respective roles of reason and passion in influencing the will is merely a reemergence of this theme.