ABSTRACT
This chapter argues for an egoist and hedonist interpretation of Treatise Book 2. It begins with Hume’s account of desire and aversion in general, before offering some preliminary remarks about how this account combines with Hume’s associative principles in the Treatise (notably sympathy and comparison) to produce a more complete theory of motivation. It then examines various indirect passions—vanity, pity, generosity, envy, malice, ambition, benevolence, and anger—arguing in each case that Hume’s account entails the reduction of these desires to self-love.
