1 The Empiricists: Hume Theory of Ideas Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

2Outline 1. Introduction 2. Human Understanding 3. Knowledge 5. Conclusion

3IntroductionHume Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Life: - ( ) – Calvinist family - Education and Projects “A new scene of thought” - Carrier Works: - Treatise of Human Nature - Enquiries Concerning Human Undersanding - Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion

4Introduction Hume’s Philosophy Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana  Hume is a committed to empiricism and naturalism (against speculative systems). He is intending to be the Newton of Philosophy and Morals. Main components: - Empiricism vs Metaphysical Systems - Naturalism: Hume and Newton - Empiricism and Skepticism - Hume and Religion

5Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Introduction 2. Human Understanding 3. Knowledge 5. Conclusion

6 Human Understanding Structure Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana UNDERSTANDING IMPRESSIONSIDEAS Sensation Reflection

7 Human Understanding Two Laws Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Copy Principle: All ideas are resolved into simple ideas copied from a simple impression Argument: the blind man and the idea of color Association of ideas: - Resemblance - Contiguity - Cause and effect  Natural and empirical laws of human nature.

8 Human Understanding The Copy Principle Applied to Philosophy Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Copy Principle: All ideas are resolved into simple ideas copied from a simple impression By the converse: Any idea which cannot be traced back to a set of simple ideas / copies of impressions is meaningless !!  A radical way to solve many philosophical disputes!

9 Human Understanding The missing shade of blue Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Objection to the Copy Principle: The missing shade of blue Hume’s answer: “singular case”  unsatisfactory A better Answer: - Mental paint mixing - Not for metaphysical ideas

10Conclusion Hume’s theory of ideas Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana (1)Impressions (2)Ideas : sensation and reflection (3)Copy Principle and its consequences  Empiricism: all knowledge comes from experience  Naturalism: empirical laws of nature  But Skepticism: strict limits to our understanding

11Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Introduction 2. Human Understanding 3. Knowledge 5. Conclusion

12 Human Understanding Structure Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana KNOWLEDGE RELATIONS OF IDEAS - A priori - Opposite  Contradiction `The sum of the angles …” MATTERS OF FACTS - A posteriori - Opposite conceivable `The sun will rise tomorrow’

13 Human Understanding Laws of Reasoning Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Relations of ideas Thought alone – nothing can be shown to be false unless it implies contradiction Matters of facts - Observation - Memory - Reasoning in terms of causes and effects (dorms)  What are the grounds of our causal reasoning?

14Conclusion Hume’s theory of knowledge Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana (1)Relations of ideas – a priori reasoning (2)Matters of facts – observation, memory and causal reasoning  Laws of nature – grounds for true knowledge ????