Hume’s Empiricism: Perception, Causality, and Knowledge
Hume’s Theory of Perception and Ideas
David Hume, a prominent figure in empiricist philosophy, replaced the term “idea” with “perception.” He distinguished two types of perceptions: impressions, which are vivid and intense, and ideas, which are less distinct and always accompany impressions. Hume argued that every idea originates from an impression.
Perceptions are presented in order and regularity, attributed by Hume to the principle of association, similar to Newton’s law of universal gravitation. This association follows three laws: 1) similarity, 2) contiguity in time and space, and 3) causality.
Hume’s Distinction of Knowledge
Hume identified two kinds of knowledge:
- Relations of ideas: Associated by resemblance, these are found in logic and mathematics, offering universally valid knowledge based on the principle of contradiction.
- Matters of fact: Derived from spatio-temporal relations and causality. While the former are directly perceivable impressions, causality involves inferring beyond immediate perceptions.
Hume’s Critique of Causality
Hume challenged the notion of a necessary connection between cause and effect. He argued that the idea of causality is a belief based on custom and habit, rather than a rational principle. This critique undermined the foundations of the external world, God, and the self, reducing the self to a bundle of perceptions.
Hume’s Moral Emotivism
In ethics, Hume proposed moral emotivism, asserting that reason cannot influence behavior, and morality is rooted in feelings.
Historical Context of Hume’s Empiricism
Hume’s empiricism was influenced by the political and social upheavals in the British Isles, including the English Revolution and the Glorious Revolution. These events fostered skepticism towards traditional authority and religious dogma.
Key Aspects of Empiricism
- Experience as the sole source and limit of knowledge.
- Rejection of innate ideas.
- Sensory experience as the criterion of truth.
- Influence of Isaac Newton’s experimental methodology.
Empiricism, developed by philosophers like John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume, emphasized verifiable facts and rejected purely rational or traditional explanations.