The Anatomy of Hume’s <i>Treatise of Human Nature</i> and His Painting of History

Although Hume depicts his Treatise of Human Nature as an anatomical work, in the final paragraph of the Treatise, he discusses the corresponding roles of the philosophical anatomist and painter within his philosophy. This article reclaims both aspects of Hume’s thought, which helps us delineate the relationship of the Treatise to his various works. First, we look in-depth at Hume’s discussion of the anatomist and painter in three texts: the Treatise of Human Nature, a letter by Hume to Frances Hutcheson, and An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Second, we focus on situating Hume’s historical interests, mainly The History of England, within his anatomical and artistic philosophical vision.