A Treatise of Human Nature · Chapter
Book III: Of Morals explained
This chapter introduces Book III, 'Of Morals,' with an epigraph from Lucan that inquires into the nature of virtue and seeks a model of what is honorable.
What happens
This chapter introduces Book III, 'Of Morals,' with an epigraph from Lucan that inquires into the nature of virtue and seeks a model of what is honorable. The chapter sets the stage for an investigation into the foundations of morality, distinguishing between the enduring love of virtue and the need to define its essence.
Themes in this chapter
Morality as Sentiment
The epigraph's focus on seeking the 'exemplar honesti' (model of the honorable) suggests an inquiry into the source of moral distinctions, a central concern of this book.
Characters to notice
- David Hume
The author, who is about to embark on an inquiry into the nature of morals.
Key passages
“Durae semper virtutis amator, Quaere quid est virtus, et posce exemplar honesti.”
Lover of enduring virtue, seek what virtue is, and demand a model of the honorable.
The epigraph frames the chapter's central question about the definition and standard of virtue.