Hume's home town celebrated 300th birthday

THE 300th anniversary of the birth of Enlightenment philosopher David Hume was marked by a festival in his home village of Chirnside, Berwickshire, this week.

Described as an "attempt to engage all ages in Britain's greatest philosopher, his thinking and Scotland's Enlightenment", among the attractions was a new David Hume beer served in local pubs.

The Chirnside celebration began on Tuesday with a free exhibition at the local community centre. A philosophy festival and Enlightenment evening took place last night. Around 30 pupils from Chirnside Primary School performed a play titled "Unanswerable Questions", co-written with drama teacher Eloner Crawford.

A new David Hume essay prize for Borders High School pupils will also be awarded to "the Borders' next great thinker".

Philosophers Dr Peter Millican of Oxford University, Dr Alasdair Richmond of Edinburgh University and Hume biographer Roderick Graham were on hand to discuss Hume's thoughts. The chief executive of Scottish Borders Council, also called David Hume, unveiled a plaque marking the village's connection to the philosopher, born on 26 April, 1711 (according to the old Scots calendar). He died, aged 65, on 25 August, 1776.