MID TERM - HUME Flashcards
What are the two types of mental content according to Hume?
Impressions (vivid sensory experiences) and ideas (reflections of impressions).
How does Hume define causation?
Causation is not directly sensed but is a mental habit formed through repeated observation of one event following another.
Why can’t causation be directly sensed, according to Hume?
Because causation is not a quality like color or shape; it is a mental construct inferred from experience.
How does Hume explain the formation of the idea of causation?
The idea of causation is formed through memory and reflection, by observing patterns of events repeatedly following one another.
What role does memory play in Hume’s account of causation?
Memory allows us to recall repeated sequences of events, which leads to the formation of the mental concept of causation.
How does Hume argue that causation is subjective?
Since causation is a mental habit based on reflection, not direct sensory input, it is subjective and resides in the mind rather than in the world.
What is the overall implication of Hume’s theory of causation for our knowledge of the world?
Our knowledge of causation is not objective; it is a mental reflection, meaning we cannot claim to know causation as a fact about the external world.
