Conservatism versus Humean empiricism and skepticism
Both trust experience and custom more than abstract theory, and Hume is sometimes counted as a conservative. His doubt reaches much further than politics, though.
What they share
Both trust experience and custom more than abstract theory, and both prefer gradual change to radical reform. Hume is sometimes counted as a conservative, and he favoured moderation over radical reform.
Where they differ
- How far the doubt goes. Conservatism distrusts abstract reasoning about politics. Hume doubts reason far more widely, including our grasp of cause and effect, and holds that custom and habit, not proof, support most of what we believe.
- The self. Hume holds that there is no fixed self, only a bundle of changing perceptions. Conservatism has no view on this.
- Religion. Hume argued against belief in miracles and traced religion to hope and fear. Conservatism, as a political view, takes no side.
A question that separates them
- Certainty. “Certainty is rare, even about everyday things” against “Some things are certain”.
- The self. “There is no fixed self” against “There is a lasting self”.
- Evidence and faith. “Only evidence counts” against “Faith can show truth”.
Only Hume has positions on these three questions. A person who is cautious about politics but sure of their beliefs leans conservative rather than Humean. The two do overlap in real life, so being placed near both is a fair result.
Written by epchē in our own words, and checked against independent sources on 2 October 2026. The sources are listed below.
Read each on its own
Sources we used
- Conservatism · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, read on 2 October 2026
- David Hume · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, read on 2 October 2026
- David Hume · Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, read on 2 October 2026