David Hume

David Hume

1. Rejects the SCT that government authority still comes from consent

   • He agrees that the first governements were founded on consent

2. He wants to demolish Locke's View

   • Obligation to obey the government is derived from SCT
     • Obligation to keep promises comes from our common interest in society
       • Obligation to obey government from the common interest of society
         • Not from SCT
           • We can skip the promise portion
             • No point to SCT
               • Its redundant
       • You cant have a government without promises

3. Empirical Objection

   • Something we can test
   • Tacit Consent
     • Silent Consent
     • Hume rejects Locke's Tacit Consent
       • There is no tacit consent in society
       • Locke thinks you can pick up and leave if you dont agree
         • Hume knows it is not that easy
     • Justified Consent
       • Requires Choice
         • Hume thinks you should obey laws that came from this
   • Live Option
     • One that you can really consider doing
       • Hume thinks you have a right to a live option

4. Hume argues that we are obligated to government

   • Not because of SCT
     • Not of a promise but of the interest of society