Synthesized answer
Hume identifies two species of moral philosophy [3]. The first considers man primarily as a being born for action, influenced by taste and sentiment, and pursuing objects based on their perceived value. These philosophers aim to make virtue appear amiable, using poetry and eloquence to engage the imagination and affections [3]. They strive to make people feel the difference between vice and virtue, and to regulate sentiments, ultimately bending hearts to love probity and honor [1].
The second species of philosophers views man as a reasonable being rather than an active one, focusing on cultivating understanding more than manners. They treat human nature as a subject for speculation, examining it closely to find the principles that govern our understanding and sentiments, and that cause us to approve or blame [1].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
ubject in an easy and obvious manner, and such as is best fitted to please the imagination, and engage the affections. They select the most striking observations and instances from common life; place opposite characters in a proper contrast; and alluring us into the paths of virtue by the views of glory and happiness, direct our steps in these paths by the soundest precepts and most illustrious examples. They make us _feel_ the difference between vice and virtue; they excite and regulate our sentiments; and so they can but bend our hearts to the love of probity and true honour, they…
hich are found of so little efficacy with regard to one, will have a more powerful influence with regard to the other. The mind of man is so formed by nature that, upon the appearance of certain characters, dispositions, and actions, it immediately feels the sentiment of approbation or blame; nor are there any emotions more essential to its frame and constitution. The characters which engage our approbation are chiefly such as contribute to the peace and security of human society; as the characters which excite blame are chiefly such as tend to public detriment and disturbance:…
Of the academical or sceptical Philosophy INDEX SECTION I. OF THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF PHILOSOPHY. 1. Moral philosophy, or the science of human nature, may be treated after two different manners; each of which has its peculiar merit, and may contribute to the entertainment, instruction, and reformation of mankind. The one considers man chiefly as born for action; and as influenced in his measures by taste and sentiment; pursuing one object, and avoiding another, according to the value which these objects seem to possess, and according to the light in which they present…
rashly. For how much must we diminish from the beauty and value of this species of philosophy, upon such a supposition? Moralists have hitherto been accustomed, when they considered the vast multitude and diversity of those actions that excite our approbation or dislike, to search for some common principle, on which this variety of sentiments might depend. And though they have sometimes carried the matter too far, by their passion for some one general principle; it must, however, be confessed, that they are excusable in expecting to find some general principles, into which all the…
and are as suitable to the primary intention of nature as those which more directly promote its happiness and welfare? Are such remote and uncertain speculations able to counterbalance the sentiments which arise from the natural and immediate view of the objects? A man who is robbed of a considerable sum; does he find his vexation for the loss anywise diminished by these sublime reflections? Why then should his moral resentment against the crime be supposed incompatible with them? Or why should not the acknowledgment of a real distinction between vice and virtue be reconcileable to…