Hume on Revolution :: Government Politics Papers

Hume on RevolutionDavid Hume offers a sound conceived plan for the administration of government and its governmental workings. Furthermore, he grants that in circumscribed circumstances the citizens of a particular government may revolt. However, with respect to anyegiance and disloyalty, Hume gives no formal rules for vicissitude. We would like something more from Hume regarding revolution and, more specifically, what he considers justified revolution. Some authors, such as Richard H. Dees, find the basis for Humes narrative of justified revolution in his historical works. By connecting Humes historical writings with his political theory, we find a fuller account of revolution. Such an account, however, does not require him to give a rule or adage prescribing revolution since such a rule or maxim would obviously go against his political theory as stated in the Treatise and his political essays. In sum, justified revolution for Hume centers around the established political p ractices and the principled causes held by factions. Unjustified revolutions, however, ar denoted by lack of friendship to established practices and want of a genuine cause. They are, rather, motivated by wild factions subject to fanaticism and enthusiasm which are the foundations of Humes political worries. These substitution tenets of Humes view of revolution are delineated within this paper. previous Remarks In Of Passive Obedience, Hume chastises those who endorse at length the maxims of guard. Disloyal acts are considered to be immoral because they strike us as being inverse to preserving order in society. The desire to preserve peace and order in society, for self-interest, motivates people to obey authority. We are, thus, to regard disobedience towards authority as something to be avoided. Hume writes, Besides we must consider, that, as obedience is our duty in the ordinary course of things, it ought chiefly to be inculcated nor can any thing be more preposterous than an anxious care and solicitude in stating all the cases, in which resistance may be allowed.(1)For Hume, it is of major importance and here and now that obedience is taught and demonstrated for its benefits. First of all, liberty and commerce depend on obligation to promises. Secondly, submission to government is necessary for the performance of promises. Disobedience and revolution put both of these advantageous in jeopardy.Hume, however, in his explanation of the formation of government claims that government can be overthrown in times of conspicuous tyranny. To be sure, Hume had admittedly agreed with the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and sympathized with the American compound situation but he finds too much liberty of resistance pernicious.