Hume on Revolution :: Government Politics Papers

Hume on RevolutionDavid Hume offers a well conceived plan for the formation of establishment and its political workings. Further much, he grants that in special circumstances the citizens of a particular government may revolt. However, with respect to obedience and disloyalty, Hume gives no formal overlooks for gyration. We would like something more from Hume regarding revolution and, more specifically, what he considers justified revolution. Some authors, such as Richard H. Dees, find the basis for Humes account of justified revolution in his historical works. By connecting Humes historical writings with his political theory, we find a fuller account of revolution. Such an account, however, does not require him to give a rule or maxim prescribing revolution since such a rule or maxim would obviously go against his political theory as stated in the Treatise and his political essays. In sum, justified revolution for Hume centers around the schematic political practices and the pr incipled causes held by factions. Unjustified revolutions, however, are denoted by lack of adherence to established practices and want of a genuine cause. They are, rather, motivated by speculative factions subject to fanaticism and enthusiasm which are the foundations of Humes political worries. These central tenets of Humes sentiment of revolution are delineated within this paper. Introductory Remarks In Of Passive Obedience, Hume chastises those who endorse at length the maxims of resistance. Disloyal acts are considered to be immoral because they tap us as being contrary to preserving order in society. The desire to preserve peace and order in society, for self-interest, motivates people to obey authority. We are, thus, to regard noncompliance towards authority as something to be avoided. Hume writes, Besides we must consider, that, as obedience is our duty in the common course of things, it ought chiefly to be inculcated nor can each thing be more preposterous than an anxio us care and solicitude in stating all the cases, in which resistance may be allowed.(1)For Hume, it is of major enormousness and consequence that obedience is taught and demonstrated for its benefits. First of all, liberty and commerce depend on obligation to promises. Secondly, submission to government is necessary for the performance of promises. Disobedience and revolution put both of these advantageous in jeopardy.Hume, however, in his explanation of the formation of government claims that government can be overthrown in times of egregious tyranny. To be sure, Hume had admittedly agreed with the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and sympathized with the American colonial situation but he finds too much liberty of resistance pernicious.