Hume Readings March 6 to May 3, 2006
Remember, we won't have class Wed. March 22. Jacob Caton will introduce discussion of Hume’s argument about induction on Friday, March 24. Read Treatise 1.3.6 in preparation. We will discuss it again later in the semester.
1) Read Hume's autobiography. It is called My Own Life
2)Read the "Abstract" of the Treatise, found at the end of your copy of the Treatise.
3) Other readings you might find useful are the New York Times article on the Scottish Enlightenment, Adam Smith's account of Hume's death, and the Stanford Encyclopedia article on Hume (link).
4) Read Book I, Part 1, Sections 1-6 of the Treatise. We have already dealt with a good deal of section 1. The main topics are:
i) Ideas vs Impressions
Compare Hume's distinction of impressions from ideas, and his account of their
nature, with Locke's account of ideas and their origin in sensation and
reflection. Why does Hume think his account better deals with the
"innateness hypothesis"? How does it deal with?
ii) Force and vivacity
Why does Hume distinguish ideas from impressions in terms of force and
vivacity? Is it adequate (i.e., does it do the job)?
iii) How does Hume argue for the priority of impressions over ideas? Is it a
good argument?
iv) What significance, if any, attaches to the "missing shade of
blue" example?
v) What is Hume's contribution to the innateness controversy? See this paragraph from section 2 of the Enquiry Concerning Human
Understanding. Or use this link
to get to the complete Enquiry.
From March 27th until the end of the semester, we'll move through the
following topics, or at least as many of them as we can cover, in order.
4)Ideas of memory and imagination, 1.1.3
How does Hume distinguish between ideas of memory and imagination? Is this
supposed to be a theory of memory? What is the principle concerning memory
(1.1.3.3) and the principle concerning imagination (1.1.3.4)
5)Association of ideas, 1.1.4
What are the three principles of association? Why do you think Hume doesn't
really argue for them here? Note what Hume says about the "intemperate
desire of searching into causes" (1.1.4.6), and relate it to his
methodology as outlined in the introduction. Compare what Hume says about
association in the Abstract.
6)Relations, 1.1.5, 1.3.1
What is the difference between natural and philosophical relations. What class
do the three principles of association belong to?
(From 1.3.1) Hume lists seven different sorts of philosophical relations. He
then distinguishes them into two groups. The first group can be the objects of
knowledge and certainty. How are these relations distinguished from the others?
Note that only one of these relations can be demonstrated, while the other
three can be only intuited. Why does Hume say this? Is it plausible? Read the first paragraph of section 4 of the Enquiry Concerning
Human Understanding.. Hume's distinction there between relations of ideas
and matters of fact is supposed to be the very same distinction. Do you think
it is?
7)The other relations and probability (1.3.2)
What are the remaining relations that Hume thinks can only be objects of probability?
Two of them can be perceived only, while the third can be reasoned towards.
Which is the one that can be used in reasoning, and why?
What is Hume's first attempt at understanding the relation of causation? Why
does it come to a halt? What new direction does he suggest we take?
8)Why a cause is always necessary (1.3.3)
What is Hume's attitude towards the proposition "whatever begins to exist
must have a cause of existence"? He thinks we can’t know it to be
true, but does he think it is false (see last paragraph of the section)? Note
the first use of the conceivability criterion (1.3.3.3). What is the criterion,
and what is it a criterion of?
9)Hume's three tasks (1.3.4 & 5)
Why does Hume think an impression of the senses or memory is necessary to start
off a piece of causal reasoning? (Why does he say impression of memory here,
rather than ideas? Aren't memories ideas rather than impressions?) Why does he
think not much can be said about impressions of sensation here? What are the
other two things that have to be explained? At the end of 1.3.5, Hume gives his
first pass at what it is to believe something. What is it?
10)Of the inference from the impression to the idea (1.3.6) (see General Strategy of Hume's Argument Concerning Probable Reasoning)
11) For the rest of the semester:
Week of April 10
More on induction (1.3.6); Belief (1.3.7-10, especially 7,8,10)
Week of April 17
Probability and normativity (1.3.11-13, especially 13)
Necessary Connection (1.3.14) + review
In class TEST: Friday April 21. Topics include impressions and ideas (including the missing shade of blue), abstract ideas, Hume on induction (1.3.6), Hume on belief (answer 2 questions)
Week of April 24
Miracles (Kevin Vallier)
Scepticism w.r.t. Reason (1.4.1)
Course Evaluation done Wed. April 26
Take Homes handed out April 26 (answer 3 questions)
Week of May 1
1.4.7 Conclusion of this book (1.4.7)
Hume on Representation (Michael Bruno)
Take Home due Wed., May 10