''An Abstract of a Book lately Published'', full title ''An Abstract of a Book lately Published; Entitled, A Treatise of Human Nature, &c. Wherein the Chief Argument of that Book is farther Illustrated and Explained'' is a summary of the main doctrines of

David Hume David Hume (; born David Home; 7 May 1711 NS (26 April 1711 OS) – 25 August 1776) Cranston, Maurice, and Thomas Edmund Jessop. 2020 999br>David Hume" ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved 18 May 2020. was a Scottish Enlightenment phil ...

's work '' A Treatise of Human Nature'', published anonymously in 1740. There has been speculation about the authorship of the work. Some scholars believe it was written by Hume's friend, the economist Adam Smith. Most believe it was written by Hume himself, in an attempt to popularise the ''Treatise''. In ''

The Philosophical Quarterly ''The Philosophical Quarterly'' is a quarterly academic journal of philosophy established in 1950 and published by Wiley-Blackwell Wiley-Blackwell is an international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wil ...

'' in 1976, and again in ''

Hume Studies ''Hume Studies'' is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes articles on the philosophical thought of David Hume. It is published by the Hume Society in April and November issues. There is open access to the journal's first 30 volumes, which ar ...

'' 1991, J. O. Nelson challenged the received view that Hume wrote the ''Abstract'', arguing that Adam Smith wrote it. His case depends on the identity of the 'Mr Smith' referred to in a letter of 4 March, 1740 from Hume at Ninewells to Francis Hutcheson at Glasgow. :My Bookseller has sent to Mr Smith a Copy of my Book, which I hope he has receiv‘d, as well as your Letter. I have not yet heard what he has done with the Abstract. Perhaps you have. I have got it printed in London; but not in the Works of the Learned; there having been an article with regard to my Book, somewhat abusive, printed in that Work, before I sent up the Abstract?

Keynes John Maynard Keynes, 1st Baron Keynes, ( ; 5 June 1883 – 21 April 1946), was an English economist whose ideas fundamentally changed the theory and practice of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments. Originally trained in m ...

and Sraffa argued that the "Mr Smith" was John Smith, Hutcheson’s Dublin publisher, and that Hume wrote the ''Abstract'' (as all the internal evidence suggests).

Norman Kemp Smith Norman Duncan Kemp Smith, FBA, FRSE (5 May 1872 – 3 September 1958) was a Scottish philosopher who was Professor of Psychology (1906–1914) and Philosophy (1914–1919) at Princeton University and was Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at t ...

, in a review of the Keynes and Sraffa edition, also accepted this, as well as pointing out the entry on Hume in '' Watkins Biographical Dictionary'' attributing authorship of the ''Abstract'' to Hume, suggesting that the author of the entry possessed inside information about Hume’s motives in publishing the Abstract. Nelson has argued that "Mr Smith" was Adam Smith (at that time, still a student). David Raynor has argued that all of the presently available internal and external evidence suggests that Hume wrote the ''Abstract''.

References

*R.W.Connon, M. Pollard, "On the authorship of Hume's ''Abstract''", ''

'' 1977 . * John O. Nelson, "The Authorship of the ''Abstract'' Revisited," ''

'' 17, no. 1 (April 1991): 83-86. * John O. Nelson, "Has the Authorship of ''An Abstract of a Treatise of Human Nature'' Really Been Decided?" ''

'' 26, no. 102 (January 1976): 91. * "New Books",

, '' Mind'' 1938 XLVII(188):522-524, * ''An Abstract of a Book lately Published; Entitled, A Treatise of Human Nature, &c. Wherein the Chief Argument of that Book is farther Illustrated and Explained'', (London, 1740). * "The Authorship of the ''Abstract'' Revisited" David Raynor, ''Hume Studies'', Volume XIX, Number 1 (April, 1993) 213-21

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Treatise of Human Nature 1740 books David Hume Philosophy books Works published anonymously Treatises