back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 4579

[from 'Letters' by David Hume, in 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 3. Final causes ]

Full Idea

Your sense of 'natural' is founded on final causes, which is a consideration that appears to me pretty uncertain and unphilosophical.

Gist of Idea

The idea of a final cause is very uncertain and unphilosophical

Source

David Hume (Letters [1739], to Hutcheson 1739)

Book Reference

'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 2', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.109


A Reaction

This is the rejection of Aristotelian teleology by modern science. I agree that the notion of utterly ultimate final cause is worse than 'uncertain' - it is an impossible concept. Nevertheless, I prefer Aristotle to Hume. Nature can teach us lessons.