Philosopher David who wrote "A Treatise of Human Nature" - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue is a classic proper noun query, testing our knowledge of major figures in Western philosophy. It points directly to a specific author and their seminal work, making it a straightforward trivia challenge. If you've ever taken a Philosophy 101 course, this name is likely to ring a bell.

Clue Analysis

The clue, "Philosopher David who wrote 'A Treatise of Human Nature'", provides two key pieces of information. First, we're looking for a philosopher named David. Second, this David is the author of a specific, influential book. The title 'A Treatise of Human Nature' is the definitive identifier here. The puzzle is asking for the philosopher's last name, which is a common convention in crosswords for historical figures.

Thinking Approaches

1. Direct Recall: The most direct path to the answer is simply knowing the author of 'A Treatise of Human Nature'. For many, the name David Hume is inextricably linked to this work.
2. Leveraging Crossings: If the name doesn't come to mind immediately, don't panic. The answer is only four letters long. Getting even one or two crossing letters can be enough to jog your memory or allow for an educated guess. For example, if you have H _ M _, the answer becomes much more apparent.
3. Contextual Association: Think about famous philosophers. Who are the big names? Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Descartes... and Hume. He is a central figure in the history of philosophy, particularly in the British Empiricist tradition alongside Locke and Berkeley.

Background Context

David Hume (1711-1776) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist. He is best known today for his highly influential system of philosophical empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism.

His magnum opus, 'A Treatise of Human Nature', was published in the late 1730s. In it, Hume aimed to create a 'science of man' by examining the psychological basis of human nature. Though it was not widely appreciated in its time, it has since become a foundational text in Western philosophy. Hume's skeptical arguments about induction and causation were particularly groundbreaking, famously awakening Immanuel Kant from his 'dogmatic slumber.'

Conclusion

This clue is a great example of how crosswords reward a broad base of cultural and historical knowledge. While it might seem daunting if you're not familiar with philosophy, it's a name that appears frequently enough in puzzles to be worth remembering. And as always, when direct knowledge fails, the grid's crossing entries are your best friends.

Hints

1. Hint 1: This philosopher was a prominent figure during the 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment.
2. Hint 2: He is famous for his skeptical arguments concerning induction and causality.
3. Hint 3: His last name rhymes with "fume".