more from David Hume

Single Idea 4771

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / a. Constant conjunction]

Full Idea

What needs to be stressed is that in both of Hume's definitions of cause, an individual sequence of events is deemed causal only because something extrinsic to the sequence occurs (be it conjunctions, or a mental link).

Gist of Idea

In both of Hume's definitions, causation is extrinsic to the sequence of events

Source

comment on David Hume (Enquiry Conc Human Understanding [1748], VII.II.60) by Stathis Psillos - Causation and Explanation §1.9

Book Reference

Psillos,Stathis: 'Causation and Explanation' [Acumen 2002], p.50


A Reaction

Simple but important. Hume's basic claim is that there is no 'causation' in events, apart from the events themselves. Hence no necessity, on top of the apparent contingency.