Abstract

According to some critics, Hume cannot be considered a ‘humean’. In this paper arguments are presented to show that Hume, in the Treatise, supports the fundamental assumptions of a ‘humean’ theory of motivation, but doesn’t maintain a desirebased theory of justifying reasons. This doesn’t imply he’s a skeptic about practical reason. Trough the development of an original theory of ‘calm’ and ‘violent’ passions, Hume provides a naturalistic account of the origin and motivational influence of normative reasons.