1. Rationality in the economic ideas of D. Hume
Thesis
21 -th ESHET Conference
Kalmychkova E.

2. Origins of neoclassical economics
Rationality in economic theory is seen as a necessary and sufficient condition for the optimal behavior of market participants, and the optimal condition of the entire economic system.
The neoclassical economists often refer to the ideas of the classical political economists – Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Senior Nassau, John Stuart Mill.

3. Rationality in classic economics
In the classical political economy the rational ideas were discussed not as a prerequisite for abstract models, but as real incentives and motives for "simple" and "sane" person.
Rationality in this case was considered more like common sense than a calculating, devoid of affect intelligence.

4. Moral Philosophy as a root of classical economics
At the root of classical political economy there were the ethical studies of D. Hume, F. Hutcheson, B. Mandeville
The main problem for them was the necessity to harmonize the selfish incentives and moral norms in the functioning of the society. They all believed that intelligence is not important, more essential are feelings, habits and needs in the area of morality.

5. The Nature of Moral Philosophy D. Hume
David Hume introduced the original interpretation of the problems of man and society, based on the general principles of his philosophy: empiricism, sensualism, psychology.
Personality acts as a single "atom" with a set of mental properties. David Hume consistently developed an empirical approach to science, bringing the same principles to the study of the foundations of morality.
Skepticism of Hume did not allow him to support the existence of a common morality laws. Morality, according to Hume, is an area of ​​standards, and in this regard the empirical method can not be applied.

6. The Nature of Moral Philosophy D. Hume
Hume's theory is based on a moral anti-intellectualism. He considers that each person has a set of passions, feelings that are the motives of his actions.
A man sets goals guided by the motives, not by the abstract reasons, or intellectual patterns. Rational behavior is intended to achieve a positive outcome for everyone, as a satisfaction of its desires.
The degree of satisfaction will be the criteria for a person to measure its actions.

7. Conclusion
Therefore, according to Hume economic system can not be designed on the basis of abstract models and schemes, it develops spontaneously; it is fundamentally can not be measured optimality.

8. Hume's ideas influenced the theory of moral sentiments of Adam Smith.
Hume did not used the idea of an "impartial observer", foreign to man. The "invisible hand" guiding the selfish interests of individuals existed in Hume’s theory only in the explanation of money system and the system of arbitration transactions.
Evolutionary people work out cooperation with the help of the conclusion of contracts, but they do not provide the overall result.
They prefer stability and predictability of the future, that is why they do not approve a fraud, a breach of contract and violations of property rights.

9. The interpretation of philosophy D.Hume
It did not find approval among representatives of the rationalist tradition, the followers of the philosophy of Descartes (the French school of the Physiocrats: J. Quesnay, A. R. J. Turgot, P. P. M. de la River, etc.),
But manifested in the understanding of “the invisible hand” of Adam Smith, equilibrium theory of Alfred Marshall, etc.

10. Effect of the Hume’s Positivist Position
You can follow the effect of the Hume’s positivist position in the Austrian marginalist school (C. Menger, F. Hayek), on the ideas of Ronald Cause, even on the theory of "routines" by R. Nelson and S. Winter, and the conception of bounded rationality of H. Simon and the theory of financial markets by R. Schiller.

11. The Theory of Social Contract
As a result, David Hume represents the classical theory of economics as a system of free contracts separate subjects.
Hume raises the question of whether a social contract for such motivated individualists is possible. He rejects the possibility of the social contract as a one-time act, which preceded the very appearance of society, but admits the existence of continuously renewable contracts, which chases the personal motives.

12. Nowadays
Nowadays the Hume’s theory is valuable for its positivist approach to the economy, and for the discussion of the money function in stimulating the economic growth.
It is possible if we remember the origins of the appearance of the rationality problem in classical political economy.