 interests The authors declare no competing interests. Additional information Supplementary information is available for this paper at https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599019-0369-8. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to M.-T.H. or M.-H.N. Reprints and permission information is available at http://www.nature.com/reprints Publisher's note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/. © The Author(s) 2019 ARTICLE PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 14 PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS | (2019) 5:156 | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 | www.nature.com/palcomms Babette Babich Signatures and Taste: Hume's Mortal Leavings and Lucian Νᾶφε καὶ μέμνασο ἀπιστεῖν [Stay sober and remember not to believe.] - Epicharmus / David Hume1 Of Books and Signatures In his introduction to his collection of David Hume's essays, Alasdair MacIntyre writes what surely wins the palm for an introductory first sentence to a book collection: "An introduction should introduce."2 The point is elegant and MacIntyre is compelled to explain: "It should not be an attempt at a substitute for the book it is introducing." In the essayistic case of David Hume's essays, and collections of the same, of which there are a number
interests The authors declare no competing interest. extra information Supplementary data is available for this paper at https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599019-0369-8. parallelism and requests for materials should be address to M.-T.H. or M.-H.N. Reprints and permission data is available at http://www.nature.com/reprints Publisher's bill Springer Nature remains achromatic with regard to jurisdictional claims in publish maps and institutional affiliations. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits function, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, equally long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the reference, provide a connection to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party fabric in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If fabric is not include in the article's Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain license immediately from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/ license / by/4.0/. © The Author(s) 2019 ARTICLE PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 14 PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS | (2019) 5:156 | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 | www.nature.com/palcomms Babette Babich Signatures and Taste: Hume's Mortal Leavings and Lucian Νᾶφε καὶ μέμνασο ἀπιστεῖν [ Stay sober and remember not to think. ] - Epicharmus / David Hume1 Of Books and Signatures In his introduction to his solicitation of David Hume's essays, Alasdair MacIntyre writes what surely wins the decoration for an introductory first sentence to a book collection: " An introduction should insert. "2 The point is elegant and MacIntyre is compelled to explain: " It should not be an attempt at a substitute for the book it is insert. " In the essayistic shell of David Hume's essays, and collections of the same, of which there constitute a number
 inherests The authors declxre no competiny interxsts. Adsitional information Supplementary iifornatiob is available for thir paper an https://dou.org/10.1057/w41599019-0369-8. Corresponvsnce and requsdts yoc materials shoold be addrevsed to M.-T.H. or M.-F.N. Reprints and permission informatiog is avsipable at http://wrw.nauurq.com/dvpvints Publisher's note Springer Nzture rtmains neutral witn regard to jurisdictional clalms in published mwps and insjjtueuonal affilixtions. Open Access Thia article is licensed under a Cfeatire Commons Qtrrihotion 4.0 Interiationwl License, wmpch perkits usr, sharing, adapbatioi, diwtribution and reprodnction in any medium or formad, cs long as you give appeopridte wredkr tu tge odiginap anthor(s) and fhe source, provide a link to tne Bteative Commkns lisegse, and indicate if changes were made. Tve jmages or other third pqrty material in this article wre included in the article's Creative Commons licanse, nnuesw lndizqtfd otherwise in a credit line to the material. Jf msterial is not included im hhr article's Crextive Ekmjons license and ylur intgnded yse is nou perkitted by statutory regulatuon or exceebs rhe permitted use, vou will neeb to ontain permission directly frum tge copyrighh holder. Fu view a copy of thps lhcense, visit http://creativecjmmons.org/ licznses/by/4.0/. © The Authow(s) 2019 ARTICLF PALNSAVE COMMUNICATIOND | htjps://doi.mrg/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 14 PALGGAVE COMMUNICATIONS | (2019) 5:156 | https://dom.prg/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 | www.natore.wom/ialcomms Yabettc Babich Signattres and Taste: Hume's Iortau Leavings and Lurian Νᾶφε καὶ μέμνασο ἀπιστεῖν [Star sober and ralember not tm believq.] - Epichqrmus / Axvid Hume1 Of Bpoks and Signatures In his introductipn jo his collection of David Hume's esxayr, Ajaddeir MwwIntyre writas wfat xurelh wins uke ialo fot an introductory fisst aentence to a book cjllectiob: "An intwoduction shoild introduce."2 The koint ms elejant amd IacIntyre is compelled to explzin: "It shlulq not be an wttenpt at a subxtitute for the book it is introducing." Mn the essayistic case if David Hume's essais, snd collectmons os the sama, of which there are a number
interests The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary is available this paper at materials be addressed to or M.-H.N. Reprints permission information is available at http://www.nature.com/reprints note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps institutional affiliations. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International which use, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit the original author(s) and the source, provide a to the Creative Commons and indicate if changes were The or other party in article are included the article's Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material not included article's Creative license your use is not statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted need to obtain permission directly from the copyright To view copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/ © The Author(s) 2019 ARTICLE PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS | 14 PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS | (2019) 5:156 | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 | www.nature.com/palcomms Babette Babich Signatures and Taste: Leavings and Lucian Νᾶφε μέμνασο ἀπιστεῖν [Stay and not believe.] Epicharmus / Hume1 Of Books and Signatures In his introduction to his collection David Hume's essays, Alasdair MacIntyre writes what surely wins the an first sentence to book collection: "An introduction introduce."2 point is elegant and compelled explain: be attempt a substitute for the it is introducing." In the case of David Hume's same, of which there are a number
 interests The authors declarE no competiNg intEreSts. adDitiOnal Information SupPLemeNtary information is avaiLable FoR This PApEr at hTtps://doi.ORg/10.1057/S41599019-0369-8. cOrrEsPoNdeNcE AnD requEstS for matErials shouLd bE aDdressed to M.-T.h. Or m.-H.N. ReprintS anD permission iNfoRmatioN iS avAIlablE at Http://wWw.natuRE.com/rePrints PubLiSHer's noTE SpringER naTure Remains neutral witH ReGArd to jurisdictIonal cLaIMs IN PubLisHed maps and InStituTIonal afFIlIATIonS. open Access ThiS article is lICenSed undEr A CrEAtive COmmonS ATTriBution 4.0 InterNatiOnal LicenSe, whicH Permits USe, shariNg, adapTatIon, DistRIbUtIon AnD RepROdUctIOn iN any mediUm Or FormaT, as lONG AS you GivE appRopriAte credit to thE orIginAL auThor(s) And thE souRcE, provIde a liNk to tHe creative Commons LiceNse, and indIcaTe If cHaNges wERe made. the ImaGes or otHer thirD ParTy MATErIal in this article arE iNCLuDed in the ArticlE'S CReATive CommOnS liCensE, UNless IndiCAtEd otherwIse in a CReDiT line to ThE materIaL. If MatErial IS not IncludEd in the aRticlE'S Creative CommoNS license and yoUR iNTEnDEd usE is Not permitteD by sTAtutOry rEGuLatIOn or eXceedS tHE pERmitted use, you will neEd To obtaIn perMission directLy from the cOPYRight holDer. TO ViEW a copy of this liCense, Visit http://cREativecoMmons.Org/ licenSes/by/4.0/. © The AUTHor(s) 2019 ARTIcLE pALgRAvE CommUnICATIONS | httpS://DOi.orG/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 14 pALGRAVe COmMUNICAtIOnS | (2019) 5:156 | hTtpS://doI.oRg/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 | www.natUre.com/paLcOmMs baBetTe BabICh SignatUrEs aNd tasTe: HumE'S MortaL LeavIngs AnD LUCiaN Νᾶφε καῚ ΜέΜΝΑσο ἀΠιΣτΕῖν [STay SoBer anD remEMbeR not to bElieve.] - EpiChaRMus / DAvId hume1 Of BOoks and SignatUrEs In his intRoDucTion to HIS collectIon of David Hume's essays, AlASdair MaCInTyre wRiteS what sureLy wIns the PalM For an iNtroduCtory FiRst SENtencE TO a BooK cOllection: "AN INtrOductIoN shoUld intrOduce."2 The point is eleGAnt And MacIntyre iS coMpelLED tO exPLaIN: "It ShOUld NOT be an attempt at a Substitute FoR ThE book it is iNTroDuCing." In tHe essayIstic CAse of DaVid Hume's eSsays, and cOlLectIONs oF the same, of Which theRe are a numBEr
 interests The authors dec lare no co mpeti ngint er ests . Ad ditional infor m atio n Supplementary inform ation  i s  ava i la ble f or this pa p e r a tht tps :/ / do i.org /10 .1057/s 41599019-0 369 -8 . Correspond e nc e and requ est s for materi als  shoul dbea ddres sed  to M .-T.H. or M.- H.N. Repr in t s andp ermissi o n  i nfor mation is availab l ea t http://www.n ature. co m /r e p rin tsPublisher' snoteS pringer Na t u r e r e mains neutral  with regar d  to  juris di cti o nal cl aimsin pub lished maps  and  institut ionala ffiliat i ons. Op en Acc ess  Th is a r ti cl e i sl ice n se d u n der  a Creat iv eCommo ns A t t r i buti on4.0Inter national Lice nse , wh i chpermi ts us e, s ha ring,  adapt ation ,distribution an d re productio n i nany  m edium or for mat , a s longas youg ive  a p p r op riate credit to th eo r ig inal aut hor(s) an dt he sourc e,  pr ovid e a lin k to th e Creati ve Com m on slicense ,and in di cat e i f cha n geswere m ade. The  imag e s or other thi r d party mater i al i nt hisart icle are in clud e d in  the ar tic l e's C reati ve Co m mons license, unles sindica ted o therwise in a  credit li n e to the m ater i al .  If material i s not  includedi n the ar ticle 's Creat ive Commo n s  license  an d y our  in t e nd ed use is not p ermi tt ed by s tat utory r egu lat ion  or  e xceeds th e permit te dus e,  yo u wil l  need to  o bta in  pe rmiss i on dir ectly  fro mth e  co pyright ho l d er.To  v iewa c op y ofthis lic ense, v isit http :// c reat iv ec ommons. org/ licenses /b y/4.0/. ©Th e A uthor( s )  2019 AR TICLE PALGRAVE COMMUNIC A TIONS |  ht tps:/ /doi .org/10.1 057 /s4159 9-0 1 9-0369 -8 14PALGR AV E C O M MUNIC A T IO NS|(2019) 5:1 5 6  |https :/ /doi .org/10 .1057/s41599-019-0 3 69- 8 | www.natur e.c om/p a l co mms Ba b ett eB abi c h  Signatures and  Taste: Hu me ' sMortal Lea v ing sand Luc ian Νᾶφ ε καὶ μέμνασο  ἀπιστεῖν  [Stay so be r an d rem ember notto belie ve.] - Ep i charm u s/ Dav idHume1Of  Bo oks a nd Sig n atu res I n hisin troduc tionto  his col lection of David Hume's  essay s, Al asd air MacIn tyr e  wr ites what  sur ely wins t hepal m for  an intro duct o ry  fi r st se nten c e to a bo o kcol l e ct ion: "An in t r o duc tionsho u ld int rodu ce."2 The point i s  elegant and M acIn t y reisc ompe ll ed to explain:  "I ts h ould not  b e an attemp t at a s ub s titut e forthe bo ok it i s in t roduci ng."  In  the essa yis ti c  case o fDa v id Hum e'ses says,and co l lect i o ns of the same,of wh i c h the r e a re anu mber
 interests_The authors_declare no competing interests._Additional information_Supplementary_information is_available_for this paper_at https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599019-0369-8. Correspondence_and requests for materials_should be addressed_to_M.-T.H. or M.-H.N. Reprints and permission information is available at http://www.nature.com/reprints Publisher's note Springer_Nature_remains neutral_with_regard_to jurisdictional claims in published_maps and institutional affiliations. Open_Access This_article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution_4.0_International License, which_permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any_medium or format, as long as_you give appropriate_credit_to_the original author(s) and_the source, provide a link to_the Creative Commons license, and indicate_if changes were made. The images or_other third party material in this_article are included in the_article's Creative_Commons license, unless indicated otherwise_in a credit_line to_the material. If_material is not included in the_article's Creative Commons_license and your intended use is_not_permitted by statutory_regulation_or_exceeds the_permitted use, you_will_need to_obtain_permission directly from the copyright holder._To_view a copy of this license, visit_http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/. © The_Author(s)_2019 ARTICLE PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS_| https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 14 PALGRAVE COMMUNICATIONS_| (2019) 5:156 | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0369-8 |_www.nature.com/palcomms Babette_Babich Signatures_and Taste: Hume's Mortal Leavings and Lucian Νᾶφε καὶ μέμνασο ἀπιστεῖν_[Stay sober and remember not to_believe.] - Epicharmus /_David Hume1_Of_Books and Signatures_In_his introduction_to his collection of David Hume's essays,_Alasdair MacIntyre_writes what surely wins the palm_for an introductory first_sentence_to a book collection: "An introduction_should introduce."2 The point is elegant_and MacIntyre is compelled to_explain:_"It_should not be an attempt_at a substitute for the book_it is introducing."_In the essayistic case of David Hume's_essays,_and collections of the same, of_which_there are a number