Influencing ethics, metaphysics, and philosophy of science, David Humes Treatise of Human Nature remains unrivalled by perhaps any other works in philosophy. The Treatise is of interest, and not merely historical interest, to professional academic philosophers. It is remarkable that it can, and often does, also serve as one of the best introductions to philosophy-to what philosophers really do-for the novice.

The major topics that have dominated contemporary philosophy can nearly all be found in the Treatise, and in many cases they are the locus classicus for ensuing debates. Among these are the foundations of ethics, causation and induction, personal identity, skepticism and the external world, philosophical method, meaning and empiricism, and immortality.