Hume - The last post

Hume states that utility pleases us because it is socially beneficial and explains how human nature finds pleasure in many events even if they are not directly linked to us. But, he wants to point out that self-love cannot, alone, count for our concern of the public. An example that he uses to explain how we approve remote actions is apathy. Like in class, people ignore world hunger because it does not directly link to themselves. When Hume describes the qualities useful to ourselves, the best example he explains (I think) is strength of mind. Observers do not necessarily like when people have strong opinions, but the person possessing these opinions enjoys the comfort he or she finds in assurance. But, traits that immediately produce satisfaction of the observers are different. These virtues, such as cheerfulness, produce immediate pleasure and are approved by those who witness the traits. Another quality, that is similar to the preceding, is one that produces immediate agreeableness from onlookers. A good example of this is cleanliness. This does not directly affect the person who possesses it, but all people can come to a consensus that these are respected. Basically, throughout the book, Hume was trying to get his point across that a person’s merit consists of mental qualities that a person decides is either useful or agreeable to him or the people around him. He says that we compare ourselves against others and that we critically evaluate our own moral standards to maintain self-respect. He supports this by pointing to the fact that obligation to act morally is found in human nature.

People, especially religious people, might disagree with Hume. They would state that morality is not build into human nature. They might say that all humans are inherently evil. They might point to the presence of sin (or immoral behavior). A theologian might point to the Bible for evidence and state that all men are born sinners, and that men need God’s guidance. But, since religion cannot be falsified (that why it is not a science), this cannot be used as direct proof.
Another person might say that people have different standards of morality, so how can it be built into human nature?