Notes on Theme of Lecture 2/11/2025

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David Hume's ethical theory places a strong emphasis on the idea that morality is based on human emotion rather than objective reasoning. He challenges the idea that ethics can be determined only by reasoning by arguing that moral judgment is shaped by emotions. This viewpoint calls into question whether morality is fundamentally human-specific or should be universal, meaning it should apply to all rational beings.

Hume's views are consistent with those of older philosophers, who believed that human compassion is natural. Problems with a sentiment-based approach to ethics include the subjectivity of individual feelings and moral disputes. Nonetheless, Hume contends that certain emotions, are universal and can form the basis of integrity. His perspective is more sentiment based, holding that the advancement of social idea and human happiness determines moral worth.