# Section I: Division of the Subject explained — A Treatise of Human Nature

> Chapter companion for A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume.

## What happens

Hume introduces a division of impressions into original (sensation) and secondary (reflective), and further distinguishes calm from violent emotions, and direct from indirect passions. He sets the scope of his inquiry to focus on the secondary, reflective impressions, particularly the violent passions, and outlines the plan to examine their nature, origin, causes, and effects.

## Themes in this chapter

### Empiricism and the Primacy of Impressions

Hume's division of impressions into original and secondary underscores the empirical foundation of all perceptions, with original impressions arising from sensory experience.

### Passions and the Self

The chapter introduces the classification of passions into direct and indirect, setting the stage for an analysis of how passions relate to the self and to external objects.

## Character check-ins

### David Hume

Author and narrator, presenting the division of impressions and outlining the subject of the treatise.

## Key lines

> As all the perceptions of the mind may be divided into impressions and ideas, so the impressions admit of another division into original and secondary.

Just as all mental perceptions are split into impressions and ideas, impressions themselves are further divided into original and secondary types.

_Hume establishes a foundational classification of mental content._

> Original impressions or impressions of sensation are such as without any antecedent perception arise in the soul, from the constitution of the body, from the animal spirits, or from the application of objects to the external organs.

Original impressions, or sensations, arise directly from bodily constitution, animal spirits, or external objects, without any prior mental perception.

_Defines the source of original impressions as purely physical._

> Secondary, or reflective impressions are such as proceed from some of these original ones, either immediately or by the interposition of its idea.

Reflective impressions derive from original impressions, either directly or through the mediation of an idea.

_Explains the origin of reflective impressions in relation to original ones._

> The reflective impressions may be divided into two kinds, viz. the calm and the violent.

Reflective impressions are categorized into calm and violent types.

_Introduces a further subdivision of reflective impressions._

> By direct passions I understand such as arise immediately from good or evil, from pain or pleasure. By indirect such as proceed from the same principles, but by the conjunction of other qualities.

Direct passions arise directly from pain or pleasure, while indirect passions arise from these same principles but are modified by additional qualities.

_Defines the distinction between direct and indirect passions._

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