Single Idea 10328

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 7. Testimony]

Full Idea

The reason why we place any credit in witnesses and historians, is not derived from any connexion, which we perceive a priori, between testimony and reality, but because we are accustomed to find a conformity between them.

Gist of Idea

We think testimony matches reality because of experience, not some a priori connection

Source

David Hume (Enquiry Conc Human Understanding [1748], X.i.89)

Book Reference

Hume,David: 'Enquiries Conc. Human Understanding, Morals', ed/tr. Selby-Bigge/Nidditch [OUP 1975], p.113


A Reaction

Well he would say that, wouldn't he? If there is no connection in testimony, presumably there can be no a priori connection with private experience, but there is a danger of never getting started, and ending in anti-realism.