Fluctuations: manners and religion in Hume's "Of the standard of taste"

Hume’s dissertation on the Standard of Taste excites many different readings, but we still know little about the circumstances of its composition. I outline its possible connections with Ramsay’s and Gerard’s performances on taste, and its structural similarities with Hume’s Dialogue on the standard of morals. In both his Standard and Dialogue, Hume seeks to replace unlimited scepticism for a more limited and indulgent scepticism. Despite his indulgence, Hume’s aversion toward any kind of influential religion remains a constant feature of both works.