Knowledge and Doubt - Hume Flashcards
What is the difference between impressions and ideas?
Hume divided knowledge into two sections. Impressions are perceptions which come directly from our senses. For example, when we touch a candle flame, we experience the impression of pain. Impressions are vivid. Ideas are our memories and imaginings, these are faint. Hume claims impressions are more vivid than ideas.
What is the difference between inward and outward impressions?
Outward impressions: Impressions caused by senses interaction with the external world, for example the heat on your skin.
Inward impressions: Immediate emotional response to our experiences, for example the feeling of love when you sit next to your partner.
Whats the difference between simple and complex ideas?
Simple ideas - The result of impressions creating memories - the memory is a copy of the original impression.
Complex ideas - The result of more than one simple ideas conjured up in some way. Complex ideas are not simply copies of impressions, and may vary in actual experience.
What different ways does the imagination create complex ideas?
Compound - The imagination takes 2 or more ideas and mixes them up to make a new idea.
Transpose - To change position of something, we can create with our imaginations all different kinds of weird and wonderful creatures.
Augment - Increase in size, for example a mouse the size of a building, It can also make a concept bigger.
Diminish - Decrease in size, for example a tiny elephant.
What is the virtuous horse and golden mountain example?
The golden mountain example is an example of compounding. We take the idea of gold and the idea of a mountain and mix them together.
the same thing goes for the virtuous horse example. We take the idea of virtue and the idea of a horse and compound them to make something bigger.
What is the Argument of the idea of God?
Hume argues that God was created by augmenting our ideas of intelligence, wisdom and goodness. The idea of God is a complex idea formed by many ideas compounded and augmented.
What is the Argument of when relevant impression is denied?
Hume’s second argument to support his theory showed that when someone doesn’t have an impression then they can’t have an idea. An example is malfunctioning senses. A blind man who has never experienced colour has no concept of what colour is. a deaf woman has no idea of sound.
What is the missing shade of blue example?
Hume asks us to imagine someone who is an expert in all colours except one shade of blue. If we line up every shade of every colour in front of this expert except the missing shade, he will see a blank where it is meant to be. Is it possible for him to come up with an idea of a missing shade, without ever experiencing it? Hume argues this is possible.
weaknesses of Hume’s concept of impressions and ideas?
-Not all ideas are faint: Hume admits in sickness. madness or dreams that our ideas can be as vivid as impressions. An example of this is PTSD, which is triggered by a traumatic event. A symptom of PTSD include intrusive memories of the event and nightmares. These are categorised as ideas but they can be vivid as impressions. When we awaken from a nightmare we have a strong sense of fear which can affect us for a while.
-Not all impressions are vivid: When drunk or sleepy, impressions can be dulled. When drunk our impression of the world can be dulled because our senses are numbed. We might not feel how cold the temperature is, or we might become drowsy and have issues with our vision.
-Copy principle: Some ideas have no obvious prior impression, for example ultraviolet. Ultraviolet is invisible to humans, and according to Hume, our ideas are based on impressions. another example is gravity. We can’t see the force of gravity, but we have an idea of its existence and how it works.
weaknesses of the missing shade of blue?
(Disprove entire theory, Innate Ideas, Rationalism)
-Hume possibly disproved his entire theory that ideas must have a basis in impressions we’ve experienced. While he says this is a singular example, its possible it isn’t. We could say the same for the sweetness and sourness of food for example, or anything we put on a scale.
-Hume doesn’t believe in innate ideas, but this example proves the existence of innate ideas. Hume’s theory suggests all all ideas are based on prior impressions, but the example should be impossible if his theory is true.
-Opens the door to rationalism. Hume could have countered the problem easily using complex ideas the argument of empiricism would still have strengths against rationalism.
Impressions and ideas strengths?
(God, lack, fits)
-Hume gives the impression of God to support his view on how complex ideas are based on simple ideas
-Hume gives examples of when people are unable to have ideas due to lack of impression
-Hume’s scientific theory fits with our current understanding of the world.
Missing shade of blue strengths?
*Hume being a good scientist/undermine Hume’s theory
-Hume is genuinely trying to come up with a science of man and is exploring the only rejection he can think of to his theory. A good scientist will offer arguments and an alternative to prove the strength of their theory. Hume is being a good scientist.
-Hume is aiming a big and comprehensive picture for his theory of knowledge. Given the relatively insignificant role that this kind of example plays in how we acquire knowledge. Hume was right to say it doesn’t undermine his theory.
