In 1739, David Hume published 'A Treatise of Human Nature,' a foundational text in modern philosophy that introduced radical skepticism regarding human understanding. Hume challenged the notion of a continuous self and questioned the validity of causality, arguing that human knowledge is rooted in experience rather than rational deduction. His ideas significantly influenced subsequent philosophical thought, shaping discussions on empiricism and the nature of human cognition.

Challenged the stability of identity and reason, influencing the fragmented self in later modernist poetry and the questioning of narrative certainty in literary forms. Hume's ideas resonated with poets such as T.S. Eliot, who grappled with the complexities of modern existence and the fluidity of self.