Annotation
David Hume is considered to be a true hero of not only Scottish but European Enlightenment, a true defender of commercial and civil society, enlightened infidel, critic of religious enthusiasm and superstitious practices. 1734
Bristol is after London the second city of England and the second port flourishing mainly thanks to participation on ´triangle trade´, slave economy, and in the same time, the city of religious freedom, hotbed of religious movements and powerful organization of local merchants, Society of Merchant Venturers of Bristol. Ambitious enlightened philosopher candidate from Scotland and flourishing city in England had a short but intense meeting in 1734. Newly discovered evidence allow as to see a particular unity of “slavery, religion, and enlightenment” in action and discuss not only genealogy of Hume´s ideas on slavery, race, and origin of both commercial and civil society. A radical question about systematic compatibility of enlightened moral philosophy and practice of 18th century slavery, colonial phase of globalization, might be addressed. Students are expected to write a 2000 words essay as a minimum, should defend her or his essay design and participate on reading and assessment of mostly textual evidence provided in classes.
Academic visitor seminar, lecture and tutorials will be held in 10 week (academic visitor: Dr Richard Sheldon, University of Bristol)