Hume’s Epistemology: Knowledge, Causality, and Skepticism
Hume: Types of Knowledge
Hume distinguishes two types of knowledge: relations of ideas and matters of fact.
Relations of Ideas
These are propositions derived from thought alone, independent of external reality. For example, “5 + 5 + 5 = 30 / 2” is true by definition. Their truth is a priori and their negation is contradictory.
- Necessary
- Domain of thought
- Analytic: Truth discovered through analysis of terms
- Obtained by intuition
- Truth is independent of experience
Matters of Fact
These propositions rely on experience and observation of the world. For example, “lions do not eat bread and butter” is known through empirical evidence.
Physics, history, and science fall under matters of fact. Their truth is a posteriori and their negation is not contradictory.
- Contingent
- Domain of knowledge
- Synthetic: Truth not discoverable through analysis of terms
- Obtained by direct observation
Hume argues that reasoning from experience is based on the relation of cause and effect.
Review of the Principle of Causality
Hume’s empiricism dictates that complex ideas are built from simple ones. He analyzes the idea of cause, arguing it’s not based on experience but on habit and belief.
Consider a billiard ball (A) hitting another (B). We only anticipate B’s movement after observing similar events repeatedly:
- Whenever a phenomenon similar to (A) occurs, a similar phenomenon (B) also occurs.
- There is a link between (A) and (B) that makes (B) follow (A). This link is called a cause.
- Whenever (A) occurs, (B) will occur.
Hume argues that while (1) is based on experience, (2) and (3) cannot be proven. We believe in causality due to habit, not rational proof.
Critique of the Idea of God
Causal inference cannot prove God’s existence. Our knowledge is limited to impressions, and the idea of God transcends these limits. Belief in God is a matter of faith, not rational certainty.
Critique of the Idea of Self
There is no impression of a constant, unchanging self or spiritual substance. We only perceive a succession of actions, impressions, and ideas. Personal identity is constructed through memory.
Hume adopts a skeptical position regarding the possibilities of knowledge, rejecting metaphysics as unfounded and dogmatic. However, his skepticism is moderated, acknowledging that in practice, things will continue to function as they always have.