Single Idea 4646

[catalogued under 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 3. Types of Necessity]

Full Idea

Of the proposition that "all experienced events have causes", Descartes says this is analytic a priori, Hume says it is synthetic a posteriori, and Kant says it is synthetic a priori.

Gist of Idea

Is 'events have causes' analytic a priori, synthetic a posteriori, or synthetic a priori?

Source

J Baggini / PS Fosl (The Philosopher's Toolkit [2003], §4.01)

Book Reference

Baggini,J and Fosl,P.S.: 'The Philosopher's Toolkit' [Blackwells 2003], p.135


A Reaction

I am not sympathetic to Hume on this (though most people think he is right). I prefer the Kantian view, but he makes a very large claim. Something has to be intuitive.