Term
| It cannot be doubted, that the mind is endowed with several powers and faculties, that these powers are distinct from each other, that what is really distinct to the immediate perception may be distinguished by reflection; and consequently, that there is a truth and falsehood in all propositions on this subject, and a truth and falsehood, which lie not beyond the compass of human understanding |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 1: Of the different species of philosophy |
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Term
| Everyone will readily allow, that there is a considerable difference between the perceptions of the mind, when a man feels the pain of excessive heat, or the pleasure of moderate warmth, and when he afterwards recalls to his memory this sensation, or anticipates it by his imagination. These faculties may mimic or copy the perceptions of the senses; but they never can entirely reach the force and vivacity of the original sentiment. The utmost we say of them, even when they operate with greatest vigour, is, that they represent their object in so lively a manner, that we could almost say we feel or see it: But, except the mind be disordered by disease or madness, they never can arrive at such a pitch of vivacity, as to render these perceptions altogether undistinguishable |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 2: Of the origin of ideas |
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Term
| By the term impression, then, I mean all our more lively perceptions, when we hear, or see, or feel, or love, or hate, or desire, or will. And impressions are distinguished from ideas, which are the less lively perceptions, of which we are conscious, when we reflect on any of those sensations or movements above mentioned |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 2: Of the origin of ideas |
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Term
| But though our thought seems to possess this unbounded liberty, we shall find, upon a nearer examination, that it is really confined within very narrow limits, and that all this creative power of the mind amounts to no more than the faculty of compounding, transposing, augmenting, or diminishing the materials afforded us by the senses and experience…. Or, to express myself in philosophical language, all our ideas or more feeble perceptions are copies of our impressions or more lively ones |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 2: Of the origin of ideas |
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Term
| Those who would assert, that this position is not universally true nor without exception, have only one, and that an easy method of refuting it; by producing that idea, which, in their opinion, is not derived from this source. It will then be incumbent on us, if we would maintain our doctrine, to produce the impression or lively perception, which corresponds to it |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 2: Of the origin of ideas |
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Term
| If it happens, from a defect of the organ, that a man is not susceptible of any species of sensation, we always find, that he is as little susceptible of the correspondent idea. A blind man can form no notion of colours; a deaf man of sounds. Restore either of them that sense, in which he is deficient; by opening this new inlet for his sensations, you also open an inlet for the ideas |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 2: Of the origin of ideas |
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Term
| When we entertain, therefore, any suspicion, that a philosophical term is employed without any meaning or idea (as is but too frequent), we need but enquire, from what impression is that supposed idea derived? And if it be impossible to assign any, this will serve to confirm our suspicion. By bringing ideas into so clear a light, we may reasonably hope to remove all dispute, which may arise, concerning their nature and reality |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 2: Of the origin of ideas |
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Term
| It is evident, that there is a principle of connexion between the different thoughts or ideas of the mind, and that, in their appearance to the memory or imagination, they introduce each other with a certain degree of method and regularity |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 3: Of the association of ideas |
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Term
| Knowledge of Relations of Ideas is either intuitively or demonstratively certain…. Propositions of this kind are discoverable by the mere operation of thought, without dependence on what is any where existent in the universe |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| The contrary of a matter of fact is still possible; because [the negation of a matter of fact] can never imply a contradiction, and is conceived by the mind with the same facility and distinctness, as if ever so conformable to reality…. We should in vain, therefore, attempt to demonstrate its falsehood. Were it demonstratively false, it would imply a contradiction, and could never be distinctly conceived by the mind |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| Now whatever is intelligible, and can be distinctly conceived, implies no contradiction, and can [thus] never be proved false by any demonstrative argument or abstract reasoning a priori |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| It may, therefore, be a subject worthy of curiosity, to enquire what is the nature of that evidence, which assures us of any real existence and matter of fact, beyond testimony of our senses, or the records of our memory |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| there is a connexion between the present fact and that which is inferred from it. Were there nothing to bind them together, the inference would be entirely precarious…. If we anatomize all the other reasonings of this nature, we shall find, that they are founded on the relation of cause and effect, and that this relation is either near or remote, direct or collateral |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| I shall venture to affirm, as a general proposition, which admits of no exception, that the knowledge of this relation is not, in any instance, attained by reasonings a priori; but arises entirely from experience, when we find, that any particular objects are constantly conjoined with each other. Let an object be presented to a man of ever so strong natural reason and abilities; if that object be entirely new to him, he will not be able, by the most accurate examination of its sensible qualities, to discover any of its causes or effects. ADAM, though his rational faculties be supposed, at the very first, entirely perfect, could not have inferred from the fluidity, and transparency of water, that it would suffocate him, or from the light and warmth of fire, that it would consume him. No object ever discovers, by the qualities which appear to the senses, either the causes which produced it, or the effects which will arise from it; nor can our reason, unassisted by experience, ever draw any inference concerning real existence and matter of fact |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| The mind can never possibly find the effect in the supposed cause, by the most accurate scrutiny and examination. For the effect is totally different from the cause, and consequently can never be discovered in it.… In a word then, every effect is a distinct event from its cause. It could not, therefore, be discovered in the cause…. In vain, therefore, should we pretend to determine any single event, or infer any cause or effect, without the assistance of observation and experience…. When we reason a priori, and consider merely any object or cause, as it appears to the mind, independent of all observation, it never could suggest to us the notion of any distinct object, such as its effect; much less, show us the inseparable and inviolable connection between them |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| I say then, that, even after we have experience of the operations of cause and effect, our conclusions from that experience are not founded on reasoning, or any process of the understanding…. [We] always presume, when we see like sensible qualities, that they have like secret powers, and expect, that effects, similar to those which we have experienced, will follow from them…. [However,] there is no known connexion between the sensible qualities and the secret powers; and consequently, that the mind is not led to form such a conclusion concerning their constant and regular conjunction, by any thing which it knows of their nature. As to past Experience, it can be allowed to give direct and certain information of those precise objects only, and that precise period of time, which fell under its cognizance; But why this experience should be extended to future times, and to other objects, which for aught we know, may be only in appearance similar; this is the main question on which I would insist |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| it is not reasoning which engages us to suppose the past resembling the future, and to expect similar effects from causes, which are, to appearance, similar |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 4: Skeptical doubts concerning the operations of the understanding |
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Term
| And it is certain we here advance a very intelligible proposition at least, if not a true one, when we assert, that, after the constant conjunction of two objects … we are determined by custom alone to expect one from the appearance of the other. This hypothesis seems even the only one, which explains the difficulty, why we draw, from a thousand instances, an inference, which we are not able to draw from one instance, that is, in no respect, different from them. Reason is incapable of any such variation. The conclusions, which it draws from considering one circle, are the same which it would form upon surveying all the circles in the universe. But no man, having seen only one body move after being impelled by another, could infer, that every other body will move after a like impulse. All inferences from experience, therefore, are effects of custom, not of reasoning. Custom, then, is the great guide of human life. It is that principle alone, which renders our experience useful to us, and makes us expect, for the future, a similar train of events with those which have appeared in the past. Without the influence of custom, we should be entirely ignorant of every matter of fact, beyond what is immediately present to the memory and senses. We should never know how to adjust means to ends, or to employ our natural powers in the production of any effect. There would be an end at once of all action, as well as of the chief part of speculation |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 5: Skeptical solution of these doubts |
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Term
| All belief of matter of fact or real existence is derived merely from some object, present to the memory or senses, and a customary conjunction between that and some other object. Or in other words; having found, in many instances, that any two kinds of objects … have always been conjoined together; if [the first] be presented anew to the senses, the mind is carried by custom to expect [the second].… All these operations are a species of natural instincts, which no reasoning or process of the thought and understanding is able, either to produce, or to prevent |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 5: Skeptical solution of these doubts |
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Term
| In this consists the whole nature of belief. For as there is no matter of fact which we believe so firmly, that we cannot conceive the contrary, there would be no difference between the conception assented to, and that which is rejected, were it not for some sentiment, which distinguishes the one from the other |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 5: Skeptical solution of these doubts |
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Term
| I say then, that belief is nothing but a more vivid, lively, forcible, firm, steady conception of an object, than what the imagination alone is ever able to attain…. [Belief is] that act of the mind, which renders realities, or what is taken for such, more present to us than fictions, causes them to weigh more in the thought, and gives them a superior influence on the passions and imagination…. [Belief] consists not in the peculiar nature or order of ideas, but in the manner of their conception, and in their feeling to the mind…. [In sum,] belief is something felt by the mind, which distinguishes the ideas of the judgment from the fictions of the imagination. It gives them more weight and influence; makes them appear of greater importance; enforces them in the mind; and renders them the governing principle of our actions |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 5: Skeptical solution of these doubts |
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Term
| I shall add … that, as this operation of the mind, by which we infer like effects from like causes, and vice versa, is so essential to the subsistence of all human creatures, it is not probable, that it could be trusted to the fallacious deductions of our reason, which is slow in its operations; appears not, in any degree, during the first years of infancy; and at best is, in every age and period of human life, extremely liable to error and mistake. It is more conformable to the ordinary wisdom of nature to secure so necessary an act of the mind, by some instinct or mechanical tendency, which may be infallible in its operations, may discover itself at the first appearance of life and thought, and may be independent of all the laboured deductions of the understanding |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 5: Skeptical solution of these doubts |
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Term
| If we allow, that belief is nothing but a firmer and stronger conception of an object than what attends the mere fictions of the imagination, this operation may, perhaps, in some measure, be accounted for. The concurrence of these several views or glimpses imprints the idea more strongly on the imagination; gives it superior force and vigour; renders its influence on the passions and affections more sensible; and in a word, begets that reliance or security, which constitutes the nature of belief and opinion |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 6: Of probability |
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Term
| A wise man … proportions his belief to the evidence. In such conclusions as are founded on an infallible experience, he expects the event with the last degree of assurance, and regards his past experience as a full proof of the future existence of that event. In other cases, he proceeds with more caution: He weighs the opposite experiments: He considers which side is supported by the greater number of experiments: To that side he inclines, with doubt and hesitation; and when at least he fixes his judgment, the evidence exceeds not what we properly call probability. All probability, then, supposes an opposition of experiments and observations, where the one side is found to overbalance the other, and to produce a degree of evidence, proportioned to the superiority. A hundred instances or experiments on one side, and fifty on another, afford a doubtful expectation of any event; though a hundred uniform experiments, with only one that is contradictory, reasonably beget a pretty strong degree of assurance. In all cases, we must balance the opposite experiments, where they are opposite, and deduct the smaller number from the greater, in order to know the exact force of the superior evidence |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of Miracles |
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Term
| Being determined by custom to transfer the past to the future, in all our inferences; where the past has been entirely regular and uniform, we expect the event with the greatest assurance, and leave no room for any contrary supposition. But where different effects have been found to follow from causes, which are to appearance exactly similar, all these various effects must occur to the mind in transferring the past to the future, and enter into our consideration, when we determine the probability of the event. Though we give the preference to that which has been found usual, and believe that this effect will exist, we must not overlook the other effects, but must assign to each of them a particular weight and authority, in proportion as we have found it to be more or less frequent…. As a great number of views do here concur in one event, they fortify and confirm it to the imagination, beget that sentiment which we call belief, and give its object the preference above the contrary event, which is not supported by an equal number of experiments, and recurs not so frequently to the thought in transferring the past to the future |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 6: Of probability |
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Term
| The chief obstacle … to our improvement in the moral or metaphysical sciences is the obscurity of the ideas, and ambiguity of the terms |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| There are no ideas, which occur in metaphysics, more obscure and uncertain, than those of power, force, energy, or necessary connexion…. We shall, therefore, endeavor, in this section, to fix, if possible, the precise meaning of these terms, and thereby remove some part of that obscurity, which is so much complained of in this species of philosophy |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| it is impossible for us to think of any thing, which we have not antecedently felt, either by our external or internal senses |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| To be fully acquainted, therefore, with the idea of power or necessary connexion, let us examine its impression; and in order to find the impression with greater certainty, let us search for it in all the sources, from which it may possibly be derived. When we look about us towards external objects, and consider the operation of causes, we are never able, in a single instance, to discover any power or necessary connection; any quality, which binds the effect to the cause, and renders the one an infallible consequence of the other. We only find, that the one does actually, in fact, follow the other. From the first appearance of an object, we never can conjecture what effect will result from it. But were the power or energy of any cause discoverable by the mind, we could foresee the effect, even without experience |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| even in the most familiar events, the energy of the cause is as unintelligible as in the most unusual, and that we only learn by experience the frequent CONJUNCTION of objects, without being ever able to comprehend any thing like CONNEXION between them |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| So that, upon the whole, there appears not, throughout all nature, any one instance of connexion, which is conceivable to us. All events seem entirely loose and separate. One event follows another; but we never can observe any tie between them. They seem conjoined, but never connected. And as we have no idea of any thing, which never appeared to our outward sense or inward sentiment, the necessary conclusion seems to be, that we have no idea of connexion or power at all, and that these words are absolutely without any meaning, when employed either in philosophical reasonings, or common life |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| But there is nothing in a number of instances, different from every single instance, which is supposedly to be exactly similar; except only, that after a repetition of similar instances, the mind is carried by habit, upon the appearance of one event, to expect its usual attendant, and to believe, that it will exist. This connexion, therefore, which we feel in the mind, this customary transition of the imagination from one object to its usual attendant, is the sentiment or impression, from which we form the idea of power or necessary connexion…. When we say, therefore, that one object is connected with another, we mean only, that they have acquired a connexion in our thought, and give rise to this inference, by which they become proofs of each other’s existence |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| Every idea is copied from some preceding impression or sentiment; and where we cannot find any impression, we may be certain that there is no idea. In all single instances of the operation of bodies or minds, there is nothing that produces any impression, nor consequently can suggest any idea, of power or necessary connexion. But when many uniform instances appear, and the same object is always followed by the same event; we then begin to entertain the notion of cause and connexion. We then feel a new sentiment or impression, to wit, a customary connexion in the thought or imagination between one object and its usual attendant; and this sentiment is the original of that idea which we seek for |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 7: Of the idea of necessary connection |
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Term
| Our idea … of necessity and causation arises entirely from the uniformity, observable in the operations of nature; where similar objects are constantly conjoined together, and the mind is determined by custom to infer the one from the appearance of the other. These two circumstances form the whole of that necessity, which we ascribe to matter. Beyond the constant conjunction of similar objects, and the consequent inference from one to the other, we have no notion of any necessity, or connection…. It must follow, that all mankind have ever agreed in the doctrine of necessity, and that they hitherto disputed, merely for not understanding each other |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 8: Of liberty and necessity |
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Term
| Thus it appears, not only that the conjunction between motives and voluntary actions is as regular and uniform, as that between the cause and effect in any part of nature; but also that this regular conjunction has been universally acknowledged among mankind, and has never been subject of dispute, either in philosophy or common life…. It seems almost impossible, therefore, to engage, either in science or action of any kind, without acknowledging the doctrine of necessity, and this inference from motives to voluntary actions; from characters to conduct |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 8: Of liberty and necessity |
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Term
| For what is meant by liberty, when applied to voluntary actions? We cannot surely mean, that actions have so little connexion with motives, inclinations, and circumstances, that one does not follow with a certain degree of uniformity from the other, and that one affords no inference by which we can conclude the existence of the other. For these are plain and acknowledged matters of fact. By liberty, then, we can only mean a power of acting or not acting, according to the determinations of the will; that is, if we choose to remain at rest, we may; if we choose to move, we also may. Now this hypothetical liberty is universally allowed to belong to every one, who is not a prisoner and in chains. Here then is no subject of dispute |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 8: Of liberty and necessity |
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Term
| It is universally allowed, that nothing exists without a cause of its existence, and that chance, when strictly examined, is a mere negative word, and means not any real power, which has any where, a being in nature. But it is pretended, that some causes are necessary, some not necessary. Here then is the advantage of definitions. Let any one define a cause, without comprehending, as a part of the definition, a necessary connexion with its effect…. But … this must be absolutely impracticable. Had not objects a regular conjunction with each other, we should never have entertained any notion of cause and effect; and this regular conjunction produces that inference of the understanding, which is the only connexion, that we can have any comprehension of…. And if the definition above be admitted; liberty, when opposed to necessity, not to constraint, is the same thing with chance; which is universally allowed to have no existence |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 8: Of liberty and necessity |
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Term
| [Where actions] proceed not from some cause in the character and disposition of the person who performed them, they can neither redound to his honour, if good; nor infamy, if evil. The actions themselves may be blameable; they may be contrary to all the rules of morality and religion: But the person is not answerable for them; and as they proceeded from nothing in him, that is durable and constant, and leave nothing of that nature behind them, it is impossible he can, upon their account, become the object of punishment or vengeance. According to the principle, therefore, which denies necessity, and consequently causes, a man is as pure and untainted, after having committed the most horrid crime, as at the first moment of his birth, nor is his character any wise concerned in his actions; since they are not derived from it, and the wickedness of the one can never be used as a proof of the depravity of the other |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 8: Of liberty and necessity |
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Term
| It will be equally easy to prove, and from the same arguments, that liberty, according to that definition above mentioned, in which all men agree, is also essential to morality, and that no human actions, where it is wanting, are susceptible of any moral qualities, or can be the objects either of approbation or dislike. For as actions are objects of our moral sentiment, so far only as they are indications of the internal character, passions, and affections; it is impossible that they can give rise either to praise or blame, where they proceed not from these principles, but are derived altogether from external violence |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 8: Of liberty and necessity |
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Term
| And it seems certain, that, however we may imagine we feel a liberty within ourselves, a spectator can commonly infer our actions from our motives and character; and even where he cannot, he concludes in general, that he might, were he perfectly acquainted with every circumstance of our situation and temper, and the most secret springs of our complexion and disposition |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 8: Of liberty and necessity |
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Term
| All our reasonings concerning matter of fact are founded on a species of ANALOGY, which leads us to expect from any cause the same events, which we have observed to result from similar causes. Where the causes are entirely similar, the analogy is perfect, and the inference, drawn from it, is regarded as certain and conclusive…. But where the objects have not so exact a similarity, the analogy is less perfect, and the inference is less conclusive; though still it has some force, in proportion to the degree of similarity and resemblance |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 9: Of the reason of animals |
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Term
| any theory, by which we explain the operations of the understanding, or the origin and connexion of the passions in man, will acquire additional authority, if we find, that the same theory is requisite to explain the same phenomena in all other animals |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 9: Of the reason of animals |
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Term
| It seems evident, that animals, as well as men learn many things from experience, and infer, that the same events will always follow from the same causes…. The ignorance and inexperience of the young are here plainly distinguishable from the cunning and sagacity of the old, who have learned, by long observation, to avoid what hurt them, and to pursue what gave ease or pleasure…. This is still more evident from the effects of discipline and education on animals, who, by the proper application of rewards and punishments, may be taught any course of action, the most contrary to their natural instincts and propensities…. In all these cases, we may observe, that the animal infers some fact beyond what immediately strikes his senses; and that this inference is altogether founded on past experience, while the creature expects from the present object the same consequences, which it has always found in its observation to result from similar objects |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 9: Of the reason of animals |
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Term
| It is impossible, that this inference of the animal can be founded on any process of argument or reasoning, by which he concludes, that like events must follow like objects, and that the course of nature will always be regular in its operations. For if there be in reality any arguments of this nature, they surely lie too abstruse for the observation of such imperfect understandings; since it may well employ the utmost care and attention of a philosophic genius to discover and observe them |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 9: Of the reason of animals |
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Term
| Nature must have provided some other principle, of more ready, and more general use and application; nor can an operation of such immense consequence in life, as that of inferring effects from causes, be trusted to the uncertain process of reasoning and argumentation. Were this doubtful with regard to men, it seems to admit of no question with regard to the brute creation; and the conclusion being once firmly established in the one, we have a strong presumption, from all the rules of analogy, that is ought to be universally admitted, without exception or reserve. It is custom alone, which engages animals, from every object, that strikes their senses, to infer its usual attendant, and carries their imagination, from the appearance of the one, to conceive the other, in that particular manner, which we dominate belief |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 9: Of the reason of animals |
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Term
| the experimental reasoning itself, which we possess in common with beasts, and on which the whole conduct of life depends, is nothing but a species of instinct or mechanical power, that acts in us unknown to ourselves; and in its chief operations, is not directed by any such relations or comparisons of ideas, as are the proper objects of our intellectual faculties |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 9: Of the reason of animals |
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Term
| There must, therefore, be a uniform experience against every miraculous event, otherwise the event would not merit that appellation. And as an uniform experience amounts to a proof, there is here a direct and full proof, from the nature of the fact, against the existence of any miracle; nor can such a proof be destroyed, or the miracle rendered credible, but by an opposite proof, which is superior. The plain consequence is (and it is a general maxim worthy of our attention), ‘That no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavours to establish: And even in that case there is a mutual destruction of arguments, and the superior only gives us an assurance suitable to that degree of force, which remains, after deducting the inferior.’ When any one tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened. I weigh one miracle against the other; and according to the superiority, which I discover, I pronounce my decision, and always reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous, than the event which he relates; then, and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of miracles |
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Term
| there is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good-sense, education, and learning, as to secure us against all delusion in themselves; of such undoubted integrity, as to place them beyond all suspicion of any design to deceive others; of such credit and reputation in the eyes of mankind, as to have a great deal to lose in case of their being detected in any falsehood |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: OF miracles |
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Term
| But if the spirit of religion join itself to the love of wonder, there is an end of common sense; and human testimony, in these circumstances, loses all pretensions to authority. A religionist may be an enthusiast, and imagine he sees what has no reality: He may know his narrative to be false, and yet persevere in it, with the best intentions in the world, for the sake of promoting so holy a cause: Or even where this delusion has not place, vanity, excited by so strong a temptation, operates on him more powerfully than on the rest of mankind in any other circumstances; and self-interest with equal force |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of miracles |
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Term
| [All supernatural and miraculous relations] are observed chiefly to abound among ignorant and barbarous nations; or if a civilized people has even given admission to any of them, that people will be found to have received them from ignorant and barbarous ancestors, who transmitted them with that inviolable sanction and authority, which always attend received opinions |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of Miracles |
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Term
| The advantages are so great, of starting an imposture among an ignorant people, that, even though the delusion should be too gross to impose on the generality of them (which, though seldom, is sometimes the case) it has a much better chance for succeeding in remote countries, than if the first scene had been laid in a city renowned for arts and knowledge |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of miracles |
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Term
| the gazing populace, receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition, and promotes wonder |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of miracles |
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Term
| Upon the whole, then, it appears, that no testimony for any kind of miracle has ever amounted to a probability, much less to a proof; and that, even supposing it amounted to a proof, it would be opposed by another proof …. It is experience only, which gives authority to human testimony; and it is the same experience, which assures us of the laws of nature. When, therefore, these two kinds of experience are contrary, we have nothing to do but subtract the one from the other, and embrace an opinion, either on one side or the other, with that assurance which arises from the remainder. But according to the principle here explained, the subtraction, with regard to all popular religions, amounts to an entire annihilation; and therefore we may establish it as a maxim, that no human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any such system of religion…. [In other words] a miracle can never be proved, so as to be the foundation of a system of religion |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of miracles |
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Term
| This still reduces us to past observation, and obliges us to compare the instances of the violation of truth in the testimony of men, with those of the violation of the laws of nature by miracles, in order to judge which of them is most likely and probable. As the violations of truth are more common in the testimony concerning religious miracles, than in that concerning any other matter of fact; this must diminish very much the authority of the former testimony, and make us for a general resolution, never to lend any attention to it, with whatever specious pretence it may be covered |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of miracles |
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Term
| That the divinity may possibly be endowed with attributes, which we have never seen exerted; may be governed by principles of action, which we cannot discover to be satisfied: All this will freely be allowed. But still this is mere possibility and hypothesis. We never can have reason to infer any attributes, or any principles of action in him, but so far as we know them to have been exerted and satisfied |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 11: Of a particular providence and of a future state |
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Term
| All the philosophy, therefore, in the world, and all the religion, which is nothing but a species of philosophy, will never be able to carry us beyond the usual course of experience, or give us measures of conduct and behaviour different from those which are furnished by reflections on common life. No new fact can ever be inferred from the religious hypothesis; no event foreseen or foretold; no reward or punishment expected or dreaded, beyond what is already known by practice and observation |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 11: Of a particular providence and of a future state |
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Term
| There is a species of scepticism, antecedent to all study and philosophy, which is much inculcated by DES CARTES and others, as a sovereign preservative against error and precipitate judgment. It recommends an universal doubt, not only of all our former opinions and principles, but also of our very faculties; of whose veracity, say they, we must assure ourselves, by a chain of reasoning, deduced from some original principle, which cannot possibly be fallacious or deceitful. But neither is there any such original principle, which has a prerogative above others, that are self-evident and convincing; Or if there were, could we advance a step beyond it, but by the use of those very faculties, of which we are supposed to be already diffident. The CARTESIAN doubt, therefore, were it ever possible to be attained by any human creature (as it plainly is not) would be entirely incurable; and no reasoning could ever bring us to a state of assurance and conviction upon any subject |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| There is another species of scepticism, consequent to science and enquiry, when men are supposed to have discovered, either the absolute fallaciousness of their mental faculties, or their unfitness to reach any fixed determination in all those curious subjects of speculation, about which they are commonly employed. Even our very senses are brought into dispute, by a certain species of philosophers; and the maxims of common life are subjected to the same doubt as the most profound principles or conclusions of metaphysics and theology |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| Unlike the Academic skeptics … who are represented as having claimed that some things are more credible than others, even if nothing is certain, the Pyrrhonians are typically represented as being skeptical of that and all other doctrines, as recommending suspension of judgment on all things, and in lieu of knowledge, that one live according to nature, custom, or the laws of his country |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| If they lose, they confirm ignorance; if you lose, you confirm it … They use their reason to inquire and debate, but not to conclude and choose. Whoever will imagine a perpetual confession of ignorance, a judgment without leaning or inclination, on any occasion whatever, he has a conception of Pyrrhonism |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| It seems evident, that men are carried, by a natural instinct or prepossession, to repose faith in their senses; and that, without any reasoning, or even almost before the use of reason, we always suppose an external universe, which depends not on our perceptions, but would exist, though we and every sensible creature were absent or annihilated…. [An object] is believed to exist, independent of our perception, and to be something external to our mind, which perceives it. Our presence bestows not being on it: Our absence does not annihilate it |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| By what argument can it be proved, that the perceptions of the mind must be caused by external objects, entirely different from them, though resembling them (if that be possible) and could not arise either from the energy of the mind itself, or from the suggestion of some invisible and unknown spirit, or from some other cause still more unknown to us? |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| How shall this question be determined? By experience surely, as all other questions of a like nature. But here experience is, and must be entirely silent. The mind has never any thing present to it but the perceptions, and cannot possibly reach any experience of the connexion with objects. The supposition of such a connexion is, therefore, without any foundation in reasoning |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| Bereave matter of all its intelligible qualities, both primary and secondary, you in a manner annihilate it, and leave only a certain unknown, inexplicable something, as the cause of our perceptions |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| For as, in common life, we reason every moment concerning fact and existence, and cannot possibly subsist, without continually employing this species of argument, any popular objections [involving the relative nature of perception], derived from thence, must be insufficient to destroy that evidence. The great subverter of Pyrrhonism or the excessive principles of scepticism, is action, and employment, and the occupations of common life. These principles may flourish and triumph in the schools; where it is, indeed, difficult, if not impossible, to refute them. But as soon as they leave the shade, and by the presence of the real objects, which actuate our passions and sentiments, are put in opposition to the more powerful principles of our nature, they vanish like smoke, and leave the most determined sceptic in the same condition as other mortals |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| For here is the chief and most confounding objection to excessive scepticism, that no durable good can ever result from it; while it remains in its full force and vigour…. [A] PYRRHONIAN cannot expect, that his philosophy will have any constant influence on the mind: Or if it had, that its influence would be beneficial to society. On the contrary, he must acknowledge, if he will acknowledge any thing, that all human life must perish, were his principles universally and steadily to prevail. All discourse, all action would immediately cease; and men remain in a total lethargy, till the necessities of nature, unsatisfied, put an end to their miserable existence…. Nature is always too strong for principle. And though a Pyrrhonian may throw himself or others into a momentary amazement and confusion by his profound reasonings; the first and most trivial event in life will put to flight all his doubts and scruples, and leave him the same, in every point of action and speculation, with the philosophers of every other sect, or with those who never concerned themselves in any philosophical researches. When he awakes from his dream, he will be the first to join in the laugh against himself, and to confess, that all his objections are mere amusement, and can have no other tendency than to show the whimsical condition of mankind, who must act and reason and believe; though they are not able, by their most diligent enquiry, to satisfy themselves concerning the foundation of these operations, or to remove the objections, which may be raised against them |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
In general, there is a degree of doubt, and caution, and modesty, which, in all kinds of scrutiny and decision, ought for ever to accompany a just reasoner (enquiry, 111).
[Nonetheless, we must limit] our enquiries to such subjects as are best adapted to the narrow capacity of human understanding…. It seems to me, that the only objects of the abstract sciences or of demonstration are quantity and number, and that all attempts to extend this more perfect species of knowledge beyond these bounds are mere sophistry and illusion |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| All other enquiries of men regard only matter of fact and existence; and these are evidently incapable of demonstrations. Whatever is may not be. No negation of a fact can involve a contradiction. The existence, therefore, of any being can only be proved by arguments from its cause or its effect; and these arguments are founded entirely on experience. It is only experience, which teaches us the nature and bounds of cause and effect, and enables us to infer the existence of one object from that of another. Such is the foundation of moral reasoning |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 10: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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Term
| Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion |
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Definition
| David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section 12: Of the academical or skeptical philosophy |
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