Single Idea 8341

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 7. Eliminating causation]

Full Idea

At no point (in Sect VII of 'Enquiries') does Hume even hint at the thesis that there is (or even might be) no such thing as causation.

Gist of Idea

Hume never even suggests that there is no such thing as causation

Source

report of David Hume (Enquiry Conc Human Understanding [1748], VII) by Galen Strawson - The Secret Connexion 21.3

Book Reference

Strawson,Galen: 'The Secret Connexion' [OUP 1992], p.214


A Reaction

If, as some people think, Hume is a phenomenalist, then we wouldn't expect him to actually deny the existence of such things. The standard position (cf. Ayer on religion) is that such things are not even worth mentioning.