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Single Idea 2193
[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / a. Constant conjunction
]
Full Idea
Without exception, knowledge of cause and effect is not attained by reasonings a priori, but arises entirely from experience, when we find that any particular objects are constantly conjoined with each other.
Gist of Idea
No causes can be known a priori, but only from experience of constant conjunctions
Source
David Hume (Enquiry Conc Human Understanding [1748], IV.I.23)
Book Ref
Hume,David: 'Enquiries Conc. Human Understanding, Morals', ed/tr. Selby-Bigge/Nidditch [OUP 1975], p.27
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]
|
15250
|
If impressions, memories and ideas only differ in vivacity, nothing says it is memory, or repetition
[Whitehead on Hume]
|
16946
|
Causation is just invariance, as long as it is described in general terms
[Quine 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]
|