Noxon, James - Hume's Philosophical Development: A Study of his Methods

Hume began his Treatise of Human Nature in his twenty-third year, having already in the previous three years 'scribled many a Quire of Paper' (L I 16). After spending three years in France in this first 'Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects', Hume came to London with the first draft of his book. After another eighteen months of revising, he published in 1739 the first two volumes, 'Of the Understanding' and 'Of the Passions', and in the following year the third, 'Of Morals'.