Transcript Hume, Induction, Causation and Skepticism

The Empiricists: Hume
Induction, Causation, Skepticism
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
1
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Inductive Inference and causation
3. Humean Skepticism
4. Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
2
Introduction
The Problem of Hume’s Skepticism
Hume’s theory of knowledge
- Empiricism and Naturalism
- Consequence : Skepticism – but to what extent?
 Hume is not endorsing any form of dogmatic skepticism, but
a “mitigated” skepticism. Our goal is to understand what this
means
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
3
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Inductive Inference and causation
3. Humean Skepticism
4. Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
4
The Problem of Induction
At stake:
Justification of our expectations of the future (based on our
sole experience of the past and present) ?
The Problem:
- No a priori justification
- No a posteriori justification – circular argument
 Our expectations about the future and the idea of uniformity
of nature are not well-founded. Unless… our ideas of causes
and effects, of necessary connections were well grounded?
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
5
Causation
Negative Phase
Copy Principle
Meaning = simple impression from which the idea is a copy
Cause, or necessary connection: from which impression do
these idea come from?
The Problem:
- Not from sensation: no sensory experience of connection –
only conjunction
- Not from reflection – no reflective experience of connection
– neither in its interaction with the body, nor in its interaction
with the ideas
 No experience of connection (even less necessary) – words
without meaning?
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
6
Causation
Positive Phase
If not from our experience of some connection, where does
the ideas of cause an effect, power and necessary connection
come from????
Text Analysis
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
7
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Inductive Inference and causation
3. Humean Skepticism
4. Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
8
Previous Forms of Skepticism
Descartes’ skepticism
- Cartesian doubt impossible
- If it were, would be incurable
Montaigne’s skepticism
- Senses unreliable: unconvincing
- Problem of representationalism: convincing
Berkeley’s skepticism
Both primary and secondary qualities exist in the mind only -convincing
 Some arguments are convincing, but how far should we
taken them?
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
9
Against Excessive Skepticism
Excessive skepticism concerning reason
Self-contradictory
Excessive skepticism concerning the senses
Neither convincing nor beneficial – a joke
 So, what should we do?
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
10
Hume’s Mitigated Skepticism
“The whimsical condition of mankind”
-Skepticism and modesty
Philosophy restricted to the domain of experience
“the reflection of common life, methodized and corrected”
Abstract sciences: quantities only
Any other matter induces verbal disputes
Empirical sciences: probability only
No system can be proved to be true / false
Burning worthless books?
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
11
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Inductive Inference and causation
3. Humean Skepticism
4. Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
12
Hume : Conclusion
(1) Empiricism and Naturalism
(2) The limits of Human Understanding
(3) Most importantly : induction, causation (also: personal
identity, freedom etc)
(4) Mitigated Skepticism
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
13