Full Idea
Hume explained cause as invariable succession, and this makes sense as long as the cause and effect are referred to by general terms. … This account leaves singular causal statements unexplained.
Gist of Idea
Causation is just invariance, as long as it is described in general terms
Source
comment on David Hume (Treatise of Human Nature, + Appendix [1740]) by Willard Quine - Natural Kinds p.131
Book Reference
Quine,Willard: 'Ontological Relativity and Other Essays' [Columbia 1969], p.131
A Reaction
A nice 20th century linguistic point made against a good 18th century theory.