A Treatise of Human Nature · Chapter
Section VIII: The Same Subject Continued explained
Hume continues his exploration of how distance affects our passions and esteem, examining why great distances increase admiration, why temporal distance has a stronger effect than spatial distance, and why past distance affects us more than
What happens
Hume continues his exploration of how distance affects our passions and esteem, examining why great distances increase admiration, why temporal distance has a stronger effect than spatial distance, and why past distance affects us more than future distance. He introduces the principle that opposition invigorates the soul, and applies this to the imagination's difficulty in traversing time versus space, leading to greater veneration for ancient objects. He also summarizes his account of the passions and reason, noting the variable influence of calm and violent passions on the will.
Themes in this chapter
Association of Ideas
Hume explains how the imagination naturally transitions from the idea of distance to the distant object, transferring passions along the way.
Passions and the Self
The chapter examines how passions such as admiration and veneration are influenced by the perceived distance of objects, and how opposition invigorates the soul.
Custom and General Rules
Hume appeals to custom and habit in explaining why we associate height with goodness and lowness with evil, and why temporal distance affects our passions differently.
Characters to notice
- David Hume
Authorial voice throughout, analyzing the effects of distance on passions and imagination.
- Mr. Locke
Referenced implicitly in the discussion of the association of ideas and the nature of perceptions.
- Plato
Mentioned in the context of ancient philosophers and the veneration of antiquity.
- Alexander
Cited as an example of a historical figure whose distance in time enhances our admiration.
- Julius Caesar
Used as an example of an ancient figure whose temporal distance increases our esteem.
Key passages
“Why distance weakens the conception and passion: Why distance in time has a greater effect than that in space: And why distance in past time has still a greater effect than that in future.”
We have explained three phenomena: distance reduces our ideas and passions, time distance affects us more than space distance, and past time distance affects us more than future time distance.
Hume summarizes the phenomena he has already accounted for, setting the stage for the reverse phenomena.
“Why a very great distance increases our esteem and admiration for an object; Why such a distance in time increases it more than that in space: And a distance in past time more than that in future.”
Now we must consider the opposite effects: very great distance increases our esteem, time distance increases it more than space, and past time more than future.
Hume introduces the three new phenomena to be explained in this section.
“It is a quality very observable in human nature, that any opposition, which does not entirely discourage and intimidate us, has rather a contrary effect, and inspires us with a more than ordinary grandeur and magnanimity.”
A notable trait of human nature is that opposition, unless it completely overwhelms us, tends to elevate our spirits and inspire greater courage.
Hume introduces the principle that opposition invigorates the soul, which is central to his explanation.
“The imagination moves with more difficulty in passing from one portion of time to another, than in a transition through the parts of space; and that because space or extension appears united to our senses, while time or succession is always broken and divided.”
The imagination finds it harder to move through time than through space, because space appears continuous to our senses, whereas time is always fragmented.
Hume explains why temporal distance has a greater effect on our passions than spatial distance.
