26 July 2004 Lecture Summary

Philosopher Examined: David Hume.

Line of Thought: Hume divides our knowledge into two types: that which concerns relations of ideas, and that which concerns matters of fact. An example of the former is mathematics. Hume mentions three cases of the latter:

1. Evidence of the senses
2. Records of the memory
3. Causal inference

The third turns out to be important because it means, essentially, that all reasoning about matters of fact, i.e., about whether things exist or not, is in some way causal. Hume takes care to argue that we discover causes and effects not by reasoning but by experience. The foundation of our reasoning from experience at all is, in turn, custom, which he calls "the great guide of human life." We then discussed, because of a question that was asked, different ways to interpret Hume's causal theory, the most important being the skeptical and the naturalistic.

We then discussed Hume's theory of belief, which is based on his notion of force or vivacity, and, after discussing several examples in light of this theory (the most notable being religion), used that to look at the types of causal inference, namely, proofs and probabilities.

Activities: Course evaluations; review quiz.