David Hume's "Enquiry Concering the Principles of Morals"

Hume's belief in benevolence and human being's native connection to society is overpowering in this piece, and the real take-away, despite what he is attempting to argue in each section.  Hume’s personal beliefs are betrayed as it is difficult for him to abstain from praising these qualities as he names “benevolence and humanity, friendship and gratitude, natural affection and public spirit” as indisputably worthy of approval.

Tyranny based on fear and force does not reign in modern society, as we are told it may have been in the past.  This is due to the society that is built between a man and his wife, which then expands to the society of a family, and a community.  Greed for luxury has always been considered a vice, and its oppressive impact on society grows alongside the stature of the person with this attribute. In contrast, a benevolent man is an asset to society, both in the public and private spheres, and the greater his stature in the community, the greater number of people he can positively affect.  Justice is necessary to protect the rights of the community at large. Religious and political fanatics create flawed laws based on superstition which do not add to the greater societal good, and the sole purpose of Justice is to add to this greater good. 

This is all predicated on Hume's belief that human beings are naturally drawn to community.  Written before the coining of the term "Utilitarianism", Hume relies on this concept heavily. Everything, even our own personal vices and virtues, comes back to it's "utility" or it's impact on society. He goes as far as to describe a person who has no regard for society as a "monster" (52), while a "man", must necessarily include the impact of society on his moral decisions.

Hume also makes allowances for the pursuit of personal pleasure.  This leaves me with the question - how does personal pleasure add to the society?  Are we back to and Aristotelian system of moderation?  If we are driven by sentimentality and utility, and the pursuit of personal pleasure is acceptable within this model, how is avarice self-monitored? How do we avoid becoming monsters?

Works Cited:
Hume, David. An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. Ed. J.B. Schneewind. Indiana: Hackett, 1983. Print.