Hume on Causation

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  • Created by: Lucy
  • Created on: 09-01-13 20:21
How does Hume describe the relation between cause and effect?
Hume says there is a necessary connection between cause and effect. We think that if the cause happens, the effect must follow.
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What do we mean by sequence without causation?
Sequence without causation is when one event usually follows another but we do not assume that the first event causes the second. For example, I eat my breakfast every morning before the arrival of the train but my eating does not cause the train.
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Can we link our knowledge of causation to the senses?
Individual experiences do not give us an impression of a necessary connection between cause and effect, nor of causation itself.
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How do we get the idea of a necessary connection?
It comes from habit. When we see an idea happen over and over (i.e. the snooker ball) we come to associate one idea with another.
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What is psychological necessity?
Given the structure of our minds, we cannot help but think of events being causally related. But the necessity of this relation is only psychological.
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What are Hume's two definitions of causation?
1) “an object, followed by another, and where all objects similar to the first are followed by objects similar to the second” and 2) “an object followed by another, and whose appearance always conveys the thought to that other”.
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Card 2

Front

What do we mean by sequence without causation?

Back

Sequence without causation is when one event usually follows another but we do not assume that the first event causes the second. For example, I eat my breakfast every morning before the arrival of the train but my eating does not cause the train.

Card 3

Front

Can we link our knowledge of causation to the senses?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How do we get the idea of a necessary connection?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is psychological necessity?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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