Hume on Society, Conversation and Increase of Humanity

Abstract

On Humeʼs account, the scope of the natural virtues(generosity or humanity) is limited to a personʼs family and friends(“narrow circle”). Elsewhere, however, Hume admits that the scope of the natural virtues extends beyond the “narrow circle” to strangers. How, then, does the scope of the natural virtues extend beyond the “narrow circle”? In this paper, I will inquire what expands the scope of the natural virtues, and argue that the scope of the natural virtues is expanded because not only of the principle of sympathy, but also of the “society” and “conversation” in which the humanity of a person is increased and cultivated.