In David Hume's intellectual production, characterized mainly by philosophical treatises and moral and economic-political essays, there were some "joking works", as he himself liked to call them, with which the great Scottish philosopher offered his contemporaries his point of view of skeptical and ironic observer of political life. These are forgotten texts but of great historical-political value, dating back to the decade 1750-1760, aimed at the cultural elite of Scottish cafes and clubs and united by the humorous style with which some of the most influential politicians and public figures of the its time. The first two satires - "The Petition of the Patients of Westminster against James Fraser, Apothecary" (1750) and "The Petition of the Grave and Venerable Bellmen (or Sextons) of the Church of Scotland, to the Hon. House of Commons" (1750). The third satire is "The History of the Proceedings in the Case of Margaret, commonly called Peg, only lawful sister of John Bull" (1760), composed in defense of the Scottish militia against the English mercenary army, which sheds light on the conflict of relations between England and Scotland afterwards to the Union of 1707. In addition to these three essays, the work includes: an introductory essay by the editor entitled: "Liberals, Jacobites and mercenaries in Scotland in the 1700s: David Hume and political satire", the "Note to the texts "and the" Biographical Note".
Nella produzione intellettuale di David Hume, caratterizzata prevalentemente da trattati filosofici e saggi morali ed economico-politici, trovarono posto alcune “opere scherzose”, come lui stesso amava chiamarle, con cui il grande filosofo scozzese offrì ai suoi contemporanei il suo punto di vista di osservatore scettico e ironico della vita politica. Si tratta di testi dimenticati ma dal grande valore storico-politico, risalenti al decennio 1750-1760, rivolti all’élite culturale dei caffè e dei club scozzesi e accomunati dallo stile umoristico con cui vengono derisi alcuni dei più influenti uomini politici e personaggi pubblici del suo tempo. Vengono qui pubblicati per la prima volta in italiano i primi due componimenti: "Petizione dei pazienti di Westminster contro James Fraser lo speziale", del 1750, contro le aspirazioni religiose e politiche del giacobitismo, e "Petizione dei rispettabili e venerabili campanari della Chiesa di Scozia all’Onorevole Camera dei Comuni", dello stesso anno, che si prende beffe di una richiesta di aumento dello stipendio da parte dei ministri della Chiesa di Scozia. La terza satira è "Storia del caso Margaret, detta Peg, unica sorella legittima di John Bull", composto nel 1760 in difesa della milizia scozzese contro l’esercito dei mercenari inglese, che getta luce sulla conflittualità delle relazioni tra Inghilterra e Scozia in seguito all’Unione del 1707. Oltre a questi tre saggi, l'opera comprende: un saggio introduttivo del curatore dal titolo: "Liberali, giacobiti e mercenari nella Scozia del '700: David Hume e la satira politica", la "Nota ai testi" e la "Nota biografica".
David Hume, "Scritti satirici (1750-1760)", a cura di Spartaco Pupo
Pupo Spartaco
2020-01-01
Abstract
In David Hume's intellectual production, characterized mainly by philosophical treatises and moral and economic-political essays, there were some "joking works", as he himself liked to call them, with which the great Scottish philosopher offered his contemporaries his point of view of skeptical and ironic observer of political life. These are forgotten texts but of great historical-political value, dating back to the decade 1750-1760, aimed at the cultural elite of Scottish cafes and clubs and united by the humorous style with which some of the most influential politicians and public figures of the its time. The first two satires - "The Petition of the Patients of Westminster against James Fraser, Apothecary" (1750) and "The Petition of the Grave and Venerable Bellmen (or Sextons) of the Church of Scotland, to the Hon. House of Commons" (1750). The third satire is "The History of the Proceedings in the Case of Margaret, commonly called Peg, only lawful sister of John Bull" (1760), composed in defense of the Scottish militia against the English mercenary army, which sheds light on the conflict of relations between England and Scotland afterwards to the Union of 1707. In addition to these three essays, the work includes: an introductory essay by the editor entitled: "Liberals, Jacobites and mercenaries in Scotland in the 1700s: David Hume and political satire", the "Note to the texts "and the" Biographical Note".I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
