DAVID HUME ENTRE O “ESCRITOR” E O “FILÓSOFO” DE ARENDT

Abstract

In this paper, I attempt to place David Hume use Hannah Arendt’s distinction between modern political philosophers and modern political writers. First, I identify the main characteristics of the tradition of political philosophy and the elements
that distance the political writers from it, notably the relation of the philosopher to the polity and the distinction between appearance and essence in the political sphere. Second, I try to show that, despite using conceptual register different from Arendt’s, a
reading of the question of personal identity and of the origin of justice and government in the Treatise of Human Nature allows us to place Hume within the tradition of political philosophy even if critical to elements of that tradition, thus moving Hume
closer to “political writing”.