Hume 'Problem of Induction'

Thèmes abordés

Hume ; induction ; inference ; epistemology ; metaphysics ; An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding ; A Treatise of Human Nature

Résumé du document

Hume defines the problem of induction, wondering about the concept of causality, in order to found a Newtonian science of Human being.

Hume définit le problème de l'induction, s'interrogeant sur la notion de concept de causalité, afin de fonder une science newtonienne de l'être humain.

Extraits

[...] That is why Hume tries to determine the namely the foundational premiss, which are able to support inductive inferences. According to him, there are four 1. “Similar causes have similar effects” “Nature is uniform” future will resemble the past” future will be conformable to the past”. Causal inference therefore relies on these propositions if any one of them is considered as correct. Though, we have to go by demonstrative arguments deduction from relations of ideas applying the faculty of understanding in order to prove these arguments. [...]

[...] Consequently, Hume puts forward that induction from experience cannot be demonstratively justified and is not rational. Besides, Hume expounds a sceptical analysis of causal inference. In part 1 of Section having reached this conclusion, he argues that a mental faculty, which is not reason, open for us the possibility of thinking that the future will resemble the past. In other terms, the mind is led by a “principle of equal weight and authority” 5.2 ) in human nature, which is not reason, to support induction. This principle is the psychological mechanism of habit or custom. [...]

[...] The repeated experiences of cause-effects relations found the customary associations. For example, when we experience repeated facts of phenomenons of type such as the paper burning by the flame, followed by phenomenons of type in this particular case its combustion in ashes and in carbon dioxide, we expect whenever an instance of A occurs, an instance of B will occur. All forms of inductive - or causal inference are explained by this psychological foundation. Furthermore, Hume argues that inductive inference is a normal function of the mind. [...]

[...] HUME AND KANT What is Hume 'problem of induction' and how does he propose to solve it? In An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748) and A Treatise of Human Nature (1739-1740) as well, Hume defines the problem of induction1, wondering about the concept of causality, in order to found a Newtonian science of Human being. In his view, “induction” does not have the Aristotelian sense particular cases to general principles but it means reasoning from observed to unobserved. Hume puts forward that cause-effects relations are not merely conjunctions or successions but rather “necessary connections”. [...]

[...] Thanks to the custom, we are able to expect that the next event will be similar to past one. All in all, Hume suggests that inductive inference is our best guide in life's affair, despite the fact that he fails to propose a clear practical justification of induction. In conclusion, Hume highlights the problematic characteristic of induction, defined as the production of knowledge about the world, which is not necessarily observable, from what is it observable thanks to the experience. [...]