Weekly Writing Assignment Six
Abigail Fisher
In Section V of the Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Hume considers the idea that social virtues are valued by individuals because they are beneficial to themselves. However, he goes on to say that nature and experience are two things that seem to impose this theory of selfishness. He also argues that individuals tend to highly regard virtuous actions that have occurred in the past. Hume uses the example of a banished statesman who has been offered kindness from his enemy even when he must leave the town. If it were learned that the event happened thousands of years prior, there would still be praise given in the present without any selfish intent from the praiser. Next, Hume says
Abigail Fisher
In Section V of the Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Hume considers the idea that social virtues are valued by individuals because they are beneficial to themselves. However, he goes on to say that nature and experience are two things that seem to impose this theory of selfishness. He also argues that individuals tend to highly regard virtuous actions that have occurred in the past. Hume uses the example of a banished statesman who has been offered kindness from his enemy even when he must leave the town. If it were learned that the event happened thousands of years prior, there would still be praise given in the present without any selfish intent from the praiser. Next, Hume says