Abstract Politeness has long been hypothesized as an antidote to faction. An influential early modern version of that hypothesis rested on two claims: a moral psychological thesis that overweening pride catalyzes faction and a political thesis that politeness ameliorates faction by muting expressions of that overweening pride. Interpretations differ as to David Hume's relationship to this double‐barreled “Politeness Hypothesis.” I offer a new account of his stance that delimits the role of pride both in Hume's discussion of the psychological mechanism generating faction and in his remarks linking politeness to the amelioration of faction. I also draw on Hume's genealogical account of the circumstances or preconditions of politeness in monarchy and commerce to highlight his important modification of the political thesis: because politeness flourishes only when dangerous factions are already muted, Hume is skeptical that politeness alone can quell faction, although politeness may augment the effectiveness of other measures to moderate faction.
Jason Fisette (Mon,) studied this question.