David Hume: Empiricism and the Theory of Knowledge

Core Principles of Empiricism

• 1. Negates the existence of innate ideas.
• 2. Denies the existence of absolute truths.
• 3. Denies the existence of absolute truths (reiterated).
• 4. The whole truth must be tested.
• 5. Negates all suprasensible realities.
• 6. It must be admitted that man is partial and imperfect.

Major Works of David Hume

• A Treatise of Human Nature (Criticizes the Cartesian approach).
• An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.

Theory of Knowledge

All knowledge comes from experience. Hume classifies two types of perceptions:

• Impressions: The direct, vivid image or immediate sensation.
• Ideas: Memories or mental images that are more or less weak.

Knowledge comes from the certainty provided by experience and the association of ideas.

Hume's Distinctions and Philosophical Basics

Hume distinguishes between matters of fact (derived from impressions and can be demonstrated) and relations of ideas (based on rules and calculations, valid for the language itself).

Foundational Concepts

Knowledge is only valid if the idea can be traced back to an impression. The world is made up of likely truths rather than absolute ones:

1. Only ideas that can be proven through experience are valid.
2. Critique of major metaphysical ideas.
3. Critique of innate ideas.

Critiques of Metaphysical Concepts

1. Personal Identity

Hume rejects the Cogito (personal identity) but does not deny that I am a unique identity; however, he denies it is immutable. The Self (the 'I') is always changing.

2. The Concept of God

He denies that God can be considered the cause of the world. Since we have no impression of God, the answer cannot be rational. He considers mechanism a Cartesian assumption.

3. The External World

Since we do not know the origin of our perceptions, we cannot affirm the existence of a world outside our perceptions. We only know the truth of facts.

Key Philosophical Definitions

• Association: A set of ideas that are grouped together in the mind.
• Causality: A value between two alleged facts where one is derived from another.
• Knowledge: Confidence in a successful relationship between two ideas.
• Belief: A strong, immediate feeling linked to an impression.
• Skepticism: The impossibility of accepting anything that cannot be linked to an empirical demonstration.
• Impression: The first type of perception, closer and more direct.
• Idea: The second type of perception.
• Memory: A collection of ideas.
• Mind: Described as a "theater."
• Reason: An instinct that leads to the relations and associations of ideas.