 The Scottish and French Enlightenment were roughly contemporaneous and grappled with the same social phenomena. It is difficult to draw hard and fast contrasts between the two bodies of thought, and better to consider individual authors.  So we turn to writings of David Hume (1711–1776), which are characterized by both naturalism and skepticism.  Hume's essays on political questions reflect his general philosophical orientation.  Although he is less likely than Condorcet and Turgot to make sweeping comments about progress, he explores the topic of social development in various interesting ways. 