David Hume Tercentenary Appeal
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To coincide with the tercentenary of the birth of David Hume in 2011, the Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities and the Department of Philosophy are seeking philanthropic funding to establish a permanent David Hume Fellowship and David Hume Chair.
These two prestigious positions at the University of Edinburgh seek to attract outstanding scholars in the expanding field of Hume studies and underpin Edinburgh as the natural centre for the study of David Hume on the world stage.
The work of the scholars will:
- combine work in the history of philosophy with frontline philosophical research concerning the ‘science of human nature’
- use history of philosophy and cognitive science to inform and enhance current thinking in the 21st Century
- introduce Enlightenment ideas and ideals to both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the areas of epistemology, ethics, history, and mind
- conduct collaborative and cross-disciplinary research that combines the history of philosophy and cognitive sciences with a range of areas from ethics and theology, to economics, politics, environment, law, literature, history and sociology, and thus reinforcing Edinburgh’s reputation as a centre for the New Enlightenment
- act as a focus for public events, communicating both the historical and the contemporary importance of Scotland’s greatest philosopher to the wider public
- offer an intensive one-year (two semester) course shared with the main undergraduate community but aimed also at International Students, many of whom are especially keen to explore Enlightenment themes in the unique setting of Edinburgh
- synergise with existing programmes and projects in Enlightenment Studies across the University and at IASH
- host an annual David Hume Summer School
Our aim is to restore Edinburgh to its traditional place as a world-renowned centre of excellence in the history of philosophy and to reinforce Edinburgh's reputation as a centre for the New Enlightenment by celebrating the past and embracing the future. Together, the Fellowship and Chair will promote the study of Hume, bringing the history of philosophy into dialogue with a range of areas including cognitive science, economics, ethics, history, law, literature, politics and theology and continuing the research programmes closest to Hume's heart in a 21st century context.