Uma investigação sobre a natureza humana: a importância das paixões na formação dos juizos e das ações morais em David Hume

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the passions and their contribution to the constitution of the moral philosophy of David Hume. Thus, we highlight the notion of passion, as an original existence, which function goes beyond sensitizing the individual, because it is a reflexive impression capable of constructing judgments and beliefs. Also, that becomes an essential tool for a moral decision making of an individual. In fact, it is a question of demonstrating how passions integrate our moral sense and how they can constitute a motivating principle of moral actions. Therefore, it is important to understand the passions and their forms of expression throughout the history of philosophy, the role that rational operations play in the behavior of the individual, what are the criticisms that Hume makes to moral rationalism and finally, the relationship between necessity and liberty in determining human actions. Likewise, it also investigates the emergence of moral distinctions and its importance to the constitution of the moral behavior of the individual. Furthermore, it is highlighted the moral sense and its origin derived from the pleasure and suffering of others and how the feeling of sympathy and justice contribute to the constitution of the moral sense and the practice of just actions. Finally, this work demonstrates how Hume's philosophical postulates were empirically corroborated by neuroscience researches on emotions and its relationship to human behavior.