The Humors in Hume's Skepticism

In the conclusion to first book of Treatise, Hume’s skeptical reflections have plunged him into melancholy. He then proceeds through a complex series stages, resulting in renewed interest philosophy. Interpreters struggled explain connection between stages. I argue that repeated invocation four humors ancient and medieval medicine explains succession, sheds new light on significance skepticism. The humoral context not only reveals Hume conceives skepticism primarily as temperament, philosophical view or system. It also resolves puzzle about how can both an illness cure. temperament can, depending its degree predominance, either contribute upset balance temperaments required for proper mental functioning.