8' - A Treatise of Human Nature

The source text is an excerpt from David Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature, a foundational work in philosophical empiricism. Hume argues that all human knowledge is based on sensory experience, and he uses this principle to critique traditional philosophical ideas about the nature of the mind, morality, and causality. The excerpt focuses on Hume's theory of the passions, which he argues arise from impressions related to ourselves and the world around us. He uses this framework to explore topics such as justice, benevolence, pride, and the influence of custom and imagination on human behavior.