David Hume, (born May 7 [April 26, Old Style], 1711, Edinburgh, Scotland—died August 25, 1776, Edinburgh), Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist known especially for
his philosophical empiricism and skepticism
. Hume conceived of philosophy as the inductive, experimental science of human nature.
What is a simple idea for Hume?
As we have seen, Hume thinks that
every idea is either simple or complex
; that every simple idea is copied from a simple impression (that is, from a simple sensation, passion or emotion); and that every complex idea is made up entirely of simple ones.
What is Hume’s theory?
Hume argued that
inductive reasoning and belief in causality cannot be justified rationally
; instead, they result from custom and mental habit. We never actually perceive that one event causes another but only experience the “constant conjunction” of events.
What is the key terms of Hume?
Hume considers three elements of the causal relationship;
contiguity, temporal priority and necessary connection
. Objects that are understood as cause and effect are immediately or mediately contiguous.
Does Hume believe in God?
This combination of skepticism and empiricism leads many to presume that, regarding the question of God, Hume is
an atheist
or, at best, an agnostic. … Hume challenges some of the arguments for the existence of God, but repeatedly in his writings, he affirms God’s existence and speculates about God’s nature.
How does Hume define cause?
A cause as a philosophical relation is defined as (para. 31): ”
An object precedent and contiguous to another, and where all objects *resembling the former are placed in like relations of precedency and contiguity to those objects that resemble the latter
.”
Why reason alone is not sufficient for morality?
The second and more famous argument makes use of the conclusion defended earlier that reason alone cannot move us to act. As we have seen, reason alone “
can never immediately prevent or produce any action by contradicting or approving of it
” (T 458). … Therefore morals cannot be derived from reason alone.
What Hume said about self?
Hume suggests that the self
is just a bundle of perceptions
, like links in a chain. … Hume argues that our concept of the self is a result of our natural habit of attributing unified existence to any collection of associated parts. This belief is natural, but there is no logical support for it.
Is Hume a skeptic?
David Hume has
traditionally been regarded as a skeptic
, perhaps the most formidable in the history of Western philosophy.
How does Hume define a miracle?
Hume on Miracles. Hume defines a miracle as an event that
(a) is caused by God (directly, or indirectly through an ‘invisible agent’)
and (b) ‘violates’ (or ‘transgresses’) a law of nature (76, 77).
Why is Hume important today?
Today, philosophers recognize Hume as
a thoroughgoing exponent of philosophical naturalism
, as a precursor of contemporary cognitive science, and as the inspiration for several of the most significant types of ethical theory developed in contemporary moral philosophy.
What does Hume say about skepticism?
David Hume held views within the tradition of skepticism. In other words,
the argument that we cannot know anything about the world with certainty
. He argued that we have no rational justification for most of what we believe.
What is the meaning of life according to Hume?
Hume’s philosophy is built around a single powerful observation: that the key thing we need to get right in life is feeling rather than rationality. … But for Hume,
a human is just another kind of animal
. Hume was deeply attentive to the curious way that we very often reason from, rather than to, our convictions.
Is Hume an existentialist?
Personally, reading Hume was exciting because of connections between his ideas and philosophies I’m more familiar with that came after him, especially
Existentialism
and Absurdism.
What did Hume say about God?
In this section Hume emphasizes the point that God’s being is
“so different, and so much superior”
to human nature that we are not able to form any clear or distinct idea of his nature and attributes, much less one based on our own qualities and characteristics.
What did Hume think of religion?
As such, Hume
rejects the truth of any revealed religion
, and further shows that, when corrupted with inappropriate passions, religion has harmful consequences to both morality and society. Further, he argues, rational arguments cannot lead us to a deity.
