HQ12

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From Dorota:

we learn to connect causes with their effects by experience only. Hume gives an example of a man who finds a watch on a desert iland. That man concluds that there must had been a man in that island before. Cause-the watch,effect-somebodywas there before who lost it. We do not learn this by reasoning.

>rm says: Right - this is a rejection of Cartesian-style rationalism.

>From MILDRED FERENTINO:

I shall venture to affirm, as a general proposition, which admits of no exception, that the knowledge of this relation is not, in any instance, attained by reasonings a priori; but arises entirely from experience, when we find, that any particular objects are constantly conjoined with each other. Let an object be presented to a man of ever so strong natural reason and abilities; if that object be entirely new to him, he will not be able, by the most accurate examination of its sensible qualities, to discover any of its causes or effect.

>rm says: So says Hume.

>From Avrohom:

we can only learn the relationship between certain causes and their effects through experience alone. not through reason.

> rm says: Good. And what kinds of experiences?

>From Avrohom:

individual experieces, like putting our heads in the bathtub to see if we can breath.

>rm says: Yes, or less disturbing ones, too! (Like watching the pen, and other objects, fall.)

Hume Reading Guide 12. How do we learn to connect specific causes with their effects? How can we not learn this, according to Hume?		Back to Hume Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
Enter your response to the above question, or to a previous response, in the form below, or use this email link. I will post your response on the right, and comment if I think I can be helpful. When emailing, instead of using the form, please indicate the question number. When using the form below, if you neglect to enter your name or email, I won't know who you are.	Class Responses and Instructor Comments >From Dorota: we learn to connect causes with their effects by experience only. Hume gives an example of a man who finds a watch on a desert iland. That man concluds that there must had been a man in that island before. Cause-the watch,effect-somebodywas there before who lost it. We do not learn this by reasoning. >rm says: Right - this is a rejection of Cartesian-style rationalism. >From MILDRED FERENTINO: I shall venture to affirm, as a general proposition, which admits of no exception, that the knowledge of this relation is not, in any instance, attained by reasonings a priori; but arises entirely from experience, when we find, that any particular objects are constantly conjoined with each other. Let an object be presented to a man of ever so strong natural reason and abilities; if that object be entirely new to him, he will not be able, by the most accurate examination of its sensible qualities, to discover any of its causes or effect. >rm says: So says Hume. >From Avrohom: we can only learn the relationship between certain causes and their effects through experience alone. not through reason. > rm says: Good. And what kinds of experiences? >From Avrohom: individual experieces, like putting our heads in the bathtub to see if we can breath. >rm says: Yes, or less disturbing ones, too! (Like watching the pen, and other objects, fall.)
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