Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did David Hume go to France in 1734?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
David Hume
Scottish philosopher David Hume, oil on canvas by Allan Ramsay, 1766; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.
In 1734, David Hume reached a turning point in his life after a brief, unsuccessful attempt at working in a merchant’s office in Bristol. Seeking to pursue his intellectual interests, he retired to France for three years to focus on his studies and writing.1
During this period, he spent most of his time in La Flèche, where he worked on formulating his comprehensive philosophical system, A Treatise of Human Nature.1