David Hume was an influential Scottish philosopher, historian, and economist of the 18th century. He is best known for his empiricist and skeptical approach to philosophy, particularly his views on causation, induction, and the limits of human knowledge. Hume's work had a significant impact on the development of Western philosophy and continues to be studied and debated by scholars to this day. In addition to his philosophical contributions, Hume also made important contributions to the fields of history and economics.