Theory of Justice in David Hume's Thought

Although David Hume is not a political philosopher in the normal meaning of the term, some of his viewpoints, including his special attitude on superiority of justice has left an impression on political thought. Based on his empirical approach, Hume presents a utilitarian attitude towards justice, and despite the common conception, he doesn’t consider justice as a natural virtue and intrinsic value; rather, in his opinion, its virtue depends on special circumstance. Explaining Hume’s viewpoint on justice in detail and indicating its relation to his epistemology and anthropology, the present essay deals with the critical examination of his theory on justice.