Philosophy Friday: David Hume

David Hume: 1711-1776

            David Hume was an Empiricist. As such, he was a skeptic. At one point religious, Hume became a critique of theism. However, his works proved to be influential in the western world. His ideas regarding the unreliability of metaphysical truths are still popular in some branches of contemporary philosophy. One of the most unique of Hume’s theories is his theory of knowledge and metaphysics.[1]

            Hume put into question one of the most basic human ideas: the connection between cause and effect.  Hume believed that all knowledge is based on perceptions, and from perceptions we reason to attain truth.  There are two types of perceptions. The first type of perception is impressions, which are the more powerful of the two types of perceptions. The second type of perception is ideas. Ideas are weak duplicates of impressions. Ideas are like footprints in our mind while impressions are like the foot that made them. From here, Hume calls into question causality. Hume argues we do not have an impression for causality, but only an idea. The idea is simply assumed, on the basis of experience, but it is not known like other things. Hume argued that experience is the foundation for human reasoning. We assume from experience that the sun will rise tomorrow morning as it has every morning, regardless of the fact that it would not be outside of human reason if the sun did otherwise tomorrow, for the rising of the sun is a contingent fact.[2]

Hume denied the existence of a metaphysical reality. According to Hume, metaphysical theories, including God, “arise either from the fruitless efforts of human vanity…or from the craft of popular superstitions.”[3] Without experience of metaphysical claims, Hume argued that they cannot be proven. For, miracles go contrary to the laws of nature, which have been established by “firm and unalterable experiences.”[4] Belief in the metaphysical realm is irrational and unreasonable, according to Hume. Hume argued that the small amount of accounts of miracles available is not sufficient evidence to overcome the reliability of time-tested natural laws.[5]

            Empiricism grew in popularity in the 1700’s, with Hume’s thoughts being echoed by other philosophers. Hume’s philosophy was so influential that it has become a common philosophical worldview today. Today, most people believe God, miracles, or any other metaphysical claim is pure myth or fiction. Sadly, philosophy has altered considerably since the metaphysical philosophy of Aristotle and Plato.

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[1]. Pojman and Vaughn, “David Hume,” in Classics of Philosophy, 3rd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 718-719.

[2]. Ibid., 719

[3]. David Hume, “Enquiry concerning Human Understanding,” in Enquiries concerning Human Understanding and concerning the Principles of Morals, 3rd ed. revised by P. H. Nidditch, ed. L. A. Selby-Bigge, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975), 11.

[4]. David Hume, An Inquiry concerning Human Understanding. (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1997), 76.

[5]. Tommaso Piazza, “Hume’s Argument against Miracles,” Just the Arguments: 100 of the Most Important Arguments in Western Philosophy, ed.  Michael Bruce and Steven Barbone (Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011), 44-48