Although the physical distance between Thomas More(1478-1535) and David Hume(1711-1776) was not very far, as they lived in neighbouring countries(England and Scotland), one could say that the difference between their views and understandings of the world, religion, and human nature could not have been farther. This should not be surprising, as More, a Christian saint and prominent figure of the late 15th–16th century, doesn’t have much in common with Hume, 18th-century philosopher, known for his skepticism in religion and divine moral dogmas.
To better understand the similarities and differences between their philosophies, it is important to consider the historical context in which they were writing—their time periods and the societies around them. More was writing in the 16th century, and his main concerns were religious and moral issues. However, he was also one of the most progressive thinkers of his time, as many of his political and economic ideas were later taken up in the 19th century. His emphasis on reason connects him to Enlightenment thinkers, who placed great importance on reason and science. Still, More shared far less with the skeptical attitudes toward religious dogma that many 18th-century Enlightenment philosophers developed. Both More and Hume were highly influential figures of their time, and the sharp differences in their ideas stem largely from their contrasting views of human nature and the origin of the knowledge our minds process—differences that ultimately led them in opposite philosophical directions.
It is interesting to note that highly intellectual thinkers like More and Hume would answer questions about the ideal society, the proper system for judging and punishing crime, or the socio-economic structure of a community in completely different ways. However, these differences are not surprising once we consider their deep disagreements about human nature and human understanding. More presents his view of human nature in Utopia (1516), emphasizing reason-driven individuals who create a perfect society on the island of Utopia. The Utopians reflect many of More’s ideas, particularly regarding religion and reason. As he writes, “Furthermore, reason above all inspires mortals to love and revere the majesty of God, to whom we owe our existence and our capacity to be happy” (Utopia 82). Hume would most likely dislike his approach of prioritizing reason over everything and using it to justify religious dogmas, as he does not believe in religious dogmas and also does not believe in reason in the same way More does and employs it in his works. For Hume, “Nature will always maintain her rights, and prevail in the end over any abstract reasoning whatsoever.”(An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, PG41). Here, he clearly shows that he doesn’t believe in high moral standards, which, by reason, will lead humans to “perfection”.