Hume's Inductive Inferences & PUN

Question 1

After having derived that we can only have justified beliefs about the external world if they are formed based on a posteriori, what does Hume then question?

Answer 1

What we can know about matters of fact beyond our immediate senses and memory?

Question 2

What are the two types of inductive inferences (II)?

Answer 2

Singular II & Inductive Generalization

Question 3

What is a singular inductive inference?

Answer 3

Using cause and effect to conclude that an object x, is a part of another object group/class (G)

P1: Every F observed thus far is a G
P2: X is an F
C: X is a G

Question 4

What is an Inductive Generalization?

Answer 4

Using cause and effect to generalize a statement regarding the identification of objects.

P1: Every F observed thus far is a G
C: All hitherto unobserved Fs are Gs

Question 5

Hume argues that we can have knowledge regarding causal relations based on what type of knowledge?

Answer 5

A posteriori

Question 6

We can have a priori justification of propositions if?

Answer 6

The negation is inconceivable

Question 7

What is an inference?

Answer 7

The action of using experience to predict or retrodict

Question 8

What is PUN

Answer 8

The Principle of the Uniformity of Nature

Question 9

What does the Principle of the Uniformity of Nature imply?

Answer 9

The future will be conformable to the past, ie. it will resemble the past

Question 10

Can PUN be justified a priori?

Answer 10

No, PUN’s negation is not inconceivable and therefor it is not justified

Question 11

Can PUN be justified a posteriori?

Answer 11

No, if PUN is to be assumed a posteriori justified the argument it will follow, according to Hume, will be circular.

“On all the past occasions that I observed Nature it was uniform, therefor PUN is true”
PUN is true because I saw that it was so, and because I saw it, PUN is true.

Question 12

What is Hume’s argument for PUN and thereby Induction?

Answer 12

P1: Induction is justified only if PUN is justified
P2: if PUN is justified it must be justified a priori or a posteriori
P3: PUN cannot be justified a posteriori
P4: PUN cannot be justified a priori
SC: PUN cannot be justified
C: Induction is not justifed