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The Knavish Humean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 October 2009

By
Jean Hampton
Edited by
Jules L. Coleman  and
Christopher W. Morris
Jules L. Coleman
Affiliation:
Yale University, Connecticut
Christopher W. Morris
Affiliation:
Bowling Green State University, Ohio
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Summary

The title of this essay is not meant to impugn Humeans; it is only meant to recognize a kind of person that some Humeans might have thought impossible, namely, someone with a full complement of other-regarding sentiments who possesses those “useful” natural virtues (such as benevolence) of the sort described by Hume but who nonetheless behaves like a “knave” (to use Hume's own word) in situations where he can exploit another with impunity. In the Second Inquiry, Hume regards such knavishness as resulting from of a lack of concern for, and integrity with respect to the treatment of, one's fellow human beings. Hume represents the knave's point of view as follows:

And though it is allowed that, without a regard to property, no society could subsist; yet according to the imperfect way in which human affairs are conducted, a sensible knave, in particular incidents, may think that an act of iniquity or infidelity will make a considerable addition to his fortune, without causing any considerable breach in the social union or confederacy. That honesty is the best policy, may be a good general rule, but is liable to many exceptions; and he, it may perhaps be thought, conducts himself with most wisdom, who observes the general rule, and takes advantage of all the exceptions. (Enq, ix, ii, pp. 282–3)

Type
Chapter
Information
Rational Commitment and Social Justice
Essays for Gregory Kavka
 , pp. 150 - 167
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1998

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