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Single Idea 6526

[from 'Treatise of Human Nature' by David Hume, in 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 1. Perceptual Realism / c. Representative realism ]

Full Idea

Hume's idea is that we move from private impressions to the physical world, not by an unconscious analytical construction but by a spontaneous imaginative leap.

Gist of Idea

Hume says objects are not a construction, but an imaginative leap

Source

report of David Hume (Treatise of Human Nature [1739]) by Howard Robinson - Perception IX.6

Book Reference

Robinson,Howard: 'Perception' [Routledge 2001], p.232


A Reaction

The idea that objects are 'constructions' seems to have originated with Russell. Hume seems closer to the actual process, which is virtually instantaneous. They both forget that you can follow up the construction or leap with a cool evaluation.