'There is no more important topic in Hume's philosophy than the imagination. It is, as Timothy Costelloe shows, the creative force at the heart of every operation of the Humean mind. Every Hume scholar will learn from this admirably clear and careful study.' James A. Harris, University of St Andrews A systematic treatment of Hume's conception of the imagination and how it informs his treatment of the central topics of his philosophy The prominence of the imagination in David Hume's philosophy has been recognised by generations of readers, but Timothy Costelloe offers the most complete picture to date of Hume's view of imagination - and its place in his philosophy. In this rich and comprehensive study, Costelloe convincingly shows that Hume has a coherent concept of the imagination. He formulates the features that Hume takes to compose its distinctive character and demonstrates how this understanding of imagination informs Hume's approach to the various subjects he treats in the course of his philosophy: metaphysics, morals and politics, aesthetics, history, religion and the practice of philosophy itself. Timothy M. Costelloe is Professor of Philosophy at the College of William and Mary. Cover image: The Baleful Head, 1887, Edward Burne-Jones (c) akg-images [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-3639-7 Barcode