more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 16946
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / a. Constant conjunction
]
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 Ref
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.
The
24 ideas
with the same theme
[causation as a regular link between event-types]:
|
2364
|
Causation is only observation of similar events following each other, with nothing visible in between
[Hobbes]
|
|
6730
|
We discover natural behaviour by observing settled laws of nature, not necessary connections
[Berkeley]
|
|
3662
|
Hume says we can only know constant conjunctions, not that that's what causation IS
[Hume, by Strawson,G]
|
|
2193
|
No causes can be known a priori, but only from experience of constant conjunctions
[Hume]
|
|
4771
|
In both of Hume's definitions, causation is extrinsic to the sequence of events
[Psillos on Hume]
|
|
5194
|
Hume's definition of cause as constantly joined thoughts can't cover undiscovered laws
[Ayer on Hume]
|
|
2221
|
A cause is either similar events following one another, or an experience always suggesting a second experience
[Hume]
|
|
2234
|
It is only when two species of thing are constantly conjoined that we can infer one from the other
[Hume]
|
|
16946
|
Causation is just invariance, as long as it is described in general terms
[Quine on Hume]
|
|
15250
|
If impressions, memories and ideas only differ in vivacity, nothing says it is memory, or repetition
[Whitehead on Hume]
|
|
8383
|
Day and night are constantly conjoined, but they don't cause one another
[Reid, by Crane]
|
|
23677
|
We all know that mere priority or constant conjunction do not have to imply causation
[Reid]
|
|
5545
|
Appearances give rules of what usually happens, but cause involves necessity
[Kant]
|
|
8377
|
Causation is just invariability of succession between every natural fact and a preceding fact
[Mill]
|
|
8380
|
Striking a match causes its igniting, even if it sometimes doesn't work
[Russell]
|
|
8371
|
Recurrence is only relevant to the meaning of law, not to the meaning of cause
[Ducasse]
|
|
8598
|
If things turn red for an hour and then explode, we wouldn't say the redness was the cause
[Shoemaker]
|
|
8421
|
Regularity analyses could make c an effect of e, or an epiphenomenon, or inefficacious, or pre-empted
[Lewis]
|
|
8391
|
In counterfactual worlds there are laws with no instances, so laws aren't supervenient on actuality
[Tooley]
|
|
8384
|
The regularity theory explains a causal event by other items than the two that are involved
[Crane]
|
|
8338
|
A phenomenalist about objects has to be a regularity theorist about causation
[Strawson,G]
|
|
14537
|
Coincidence is conjunction without causation; smoking causing cancer is the reverse
[Mumford/Anjum]
|
|
12400
|
Cries the maid: 'You must marry me Hume!'...
[Sommers,W]
|
|
16527
|
Causation - we all thought we knew it/ Till Hume came along and saw through it/….
[Sommers,W]
|