The Cambridge Companion to Hume

　　Each Cambridge Companion to a philosophical figure is made upof specially commissioned essays by an international team ofscholars, providing students and non-specialists with anintroduction to a major philosopher. The series aims to dispel theintimidation that readers may feel when faced with the work of achallenging thinker. David Hume is now considered one of the mostimportant philosophers of the Western world. Although best knownfor his contributions to the theory of knowledge, metaphysics, andphilosophy of religion, Hume also influenced developments in thephilosophy of mind, psychology, ethics, political and economictheory, political and social history, and aesthetic theory. Thefifteen essays in this volume address all aspects of Hume"sthought. The picture of him that emerges is that of a thinker who,though often critical to the point of skepticism, was nonethelessable to build on that skepticism a constructive, viable, andprofoundly important view of the world. Also included in thisvolume are Hume"s two brief autobiographies and a bibliographysuited to those beginning their study of Hume. This second editionof one our most popular Companions includes six new essays and anew introduction, and the remaining essays have all been updated orrevised.