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Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From Mildred Ferentino:

First, when we analyse our thoughts or ideas, however compounded or sublime, we always find, that they resolve themselves into such simple ideas, as were copied from a precedent feeling or sentiment. Even those ideas, which, at first view, seem the most wide of this origin, are found, upon nearer scrutiny, to be derived from it. The idea of God, as meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise and good Being, arises from reflecting on goodness and wisdom.

>rm says: So, does this mean that Hume believes in God? Please explain.

>From w y ng:

ideas do not have to be something happening at the moment. the mind already have simple ideas and complex ideas too. simple ideas comes directly from impressions. while, complex ideas are up of simple ideas.

>rm says: And impressions arise from immediate sense perception.

>From eddie:

ideas be it abstract ones come from the mind telling us that it resembles an idea of something else that we experienced or sensed. Hume show this when he uses the example of different shades of blue. He tells us that a man never experienced a specific shade of blue but that the man would know that it is a shade of blue because of his experience with the other lighter and darker shades he experienced and sensed. The only exception is God because we have nothing to compare or resemble our idea of God too, we have no experience of God or ever sensed God, but we beleive in it.

>rm says: The comments about the missing shade of blue refer to the exception to Hume's rule that we can have no ideas except those which can be traced back to sense experience. But the comments about God seem misplaced. See Question 56.

>From eddie:

Hume makes no distinction between intellect and sense--he uses "idea" for remembered or imagined sensations. there are no intellectual intuitions or intellectual abstractive cognitions, but there are counterparts of intuitive and abstractive sensations, which he calls impressions and ideas. He show this to us with the idea and the meaning of "God". we come up with our own idea of God with what we understand God to be with our minds. Which is good and wise Being. The exception to this is when a man who never experienced a specific shade of blue but the man would know that it is a shade of blue because of his experience with the other lighter and darker shades he experienced and sensed.

>rm says: Yes. But what are 'intuitive and abstractive sensations'?

Hume Reading Guide 5. From where do ideas come? How does Hume show this? Are there any exceptions?		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 Mildred Ferentino: First, when we analyse our thoughts or ideas, however compounded or sublime, we always find, that they resolve themselves into such simple ideas, as were copied from a precedent feeling or sentiment. Even those ideas, which, at first view, seem the most wide of this origin, are found, upon nearer scrutiny, to be derived from it. The idea of God, as meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise and good Being, arises from reflecting on goodness and wisdom. >rm says: So, does this mean that Hume believes in God? Please explain. >From w y ng: ideas do not have to be something happening at the moment. the mind already have simple ideas and complex ideas too. simple ideas comes directly from impressions. while, complex ideas are up of simple ideas. >rm says: And impressions arise from immediate sense perception. >From eddie: ideas be it abstract ones come from the mind telling us that it resembles an idea of something else that we experienced or sensed. Hume show this when he uses the example of different shades of blue. He tells us that a man never experienced a specific shade of blue but that the man would know that it is a shade of blue because of his experience with the other lighter and darker shades he experienced and sensed. The only exception is God because we have nothing to compare or resemble our idea of God too, we have no experience of God or ever sensed God, but we beleive in it. >rm says: The comments about the missing shade of blue refer to the exception to Hume's rule that we can have no ideas except those which can be traced back to sense experience. But the comments about God seem misplaced. See Question 56. >From eddie: Hume makes no distinction between intellect and sense--he uses "idea" for remembered or imagined sensations. there are no intellectual intuitions or intellectual abstractive cognitions, but there are counterparts of intuitive and abstractive sensations, which he calls impressions and ideas. He show this to us with the idea and the meaning of "God". we come up with our own idea of God with what we understand God to be with our minds. Which is good and wise Being. The exception to this is when a man who never experienced a specific shade of blue but the man would know that it is a shade of blue because of his experience with the other lighter and darker shades he experienced and sensed. >rm says: Yes. But what are 'intuitive and abstractive sensations'?
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