Productions
The David Hume Institute
Exploring the controversial legacy of one of The Scottish Enlightenment’s most famous philosophers.
“The Footnote, why would you say that?”
This production strikes a balance between exploring the important contributions of David Hume as part of the Scottish Enlightenment and addressing his views on national characteristics and slavery, while also considering how these issues resonate today.
Audience reactions
“None of us are just a footnote.”
Catherine Bisset
Published playwright, Actor and Head of the Justice Analytical Unit at The Scottish Government
Production background
Many people in Edinburgh today might better know David Hume by his statue on the Royal Mile. Every day, people pass and rub his toe for luck - but did you know he was history’s most famous opponent of superstitions?
TOSCOT worked with historians and staged two dynamic performances at The Storytelling centre and The French Institute in Edinburgh. During the production, we learned more about one of the world’s most influential philosophers, who developed concepts around empiricism, skepticism and reason, his own ideas seem to contradict the racist views he expressed in the margins of his work.
Using Hip Hop Education to delve into how the past affects the present
The integration of hip-hop education and the arts serves as an empowering medium for expression and exploration to allow young people to more fully engage with complex debates in a constructive and creative way.
Through a 12 week program of activity at Royal High School in Edinburgh we created a space for complex ideas about race, privilege and history to find a voice. This unique outlet for creativity gave The David Hume Institute and Edinburgh’s broader educational community a fresh perspective on an intransigent issue.
Cypher
by Usman
Royal High School Student
David Hume thinks he understands us
how we think, feel, talk,eat
But he ain't got nothing to match this beat
If he was to walk these streets
He wouldn't live to see his next meet
Acting like he the hero in his story
But history gonna remember him as the villan in our story
A story dictated by those who seek power
A power that's dictates people's life
That force's a community to deal with strife
Like cutting a hole with knife
And letting us know our next victim type
Black on black, white on black, blue on black
And yet we still lack the necessities to survive
David Hume taught us to live in his mind
Associate with his kind
And bind the ones who don't agree
To a degree in David Hume philosophy
And yet it's not enough
We put our heads down and obeyed
And yet it's not enough
We realised the faults of our ancestors
And yet it's not enough
We stood proud and fought for what we believed in
And yet it's not enough
We try and try and try but we still fail
But our fight is sending mail to the next generation
To stand tall
To never fall
And maybe that's enough