Culture And Memory

David Hume, the Enlightenment, race and power: re-examining the heritage of Scotland’s 'greatest' philosopher

We were named the David Hume Institute in 1985 because the founders admired Hume’s reputation for critical thinking. The Institute does not study Hume himself but in using his name we honour his intellectual legacy. We now know, however, that some of Hume’s views are diametrically opposed to our values as an organisation. This disjuncture poses a challenge for an organisation established to encourage deep and non-discriminatory thinking on key issues facing society. As a charity which values openness, transparency and diversity of thought, we have a responsibility to consider what it means to be named after a historic thinker who expressed racist views. We believe that considering this publicly will encourage others to accompany us on the same journey and better understand Hume’s influence on society today. This project will increase understanding of the complexity of David Hume’s legacy through experiential learning, public debate and reflection.