PHILOS 1A03 Lecture : Humeee
13 Jan 2013
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Metaphysics: a science of being qua being, ultimate reality. Hume"s moral philosophy: the science of human nature. The whole difference between impressions and ideas is their vivacity, their liveliness. Hume"s critical rule: whenever we have an idea we are unsure that we understand correctly, trace it back to the sensory impressions it copies and derives from. Three principles: resemblance, contiguity in space, cause and effect; contiguity in time. The contrary is always logically possible, even if actually false. All iron examined under many conditions is a conductor. So, iron (all of it) is a conductor. First negative point: not a relation of ideas. The opposite is not a contradiction and is logically possible. Second negative point: not a matter of fact. Because knowledge of fact depends on cause and effect and cannot justify it. First conclusion: we have no knowledge of causal powers in nature. Second conclusion: we have no knowledge of fact or existence.
