David Hume (1711-1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, and economist who made significant contributions to the fields of epistemology, metaphysics, and moral philosophy. A central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, Hume is known for his empiricist approach, which emphasized the role of sensory experience in the acquisition of knowledge. In his major work, "A Treatise of Human Nature," Hume examined the nature of human understanding, arguing that causality could not be directly observed and that all knowledge is ultimately based on habit and custom. He also explored the foundations of morality, positing that ethical judgments are derived from emotional responses rather than reason.