David Hume’s Two Definitions of Cause Essay -- Philosophy Essays

David Humes ii Definitions of CauseDavid Humes two definitions of cause found in both A Treatise of Human Nature, and An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding have been the center of much controversy in regards to his actual view of causation. Much of the deliberate centers on the lack of consistency between the two definitions and also with the definitions as a part of the greater text. As for the latter objection, much of the inconsistency hobo be remedied by sticking to the account presented in the Enquiry, as Hume makes explicit in the Authors Advertisement that the Treatise was a work which the Author Hume had intercommunicate before he left College, and which he wrote and published not long after. But not finding it successful, he was sensible of his error in exit to the press to early, and he cast the whole anew in the following pieces, where some negligence in his former reasoning and more in the expression, argon, he hopes, corrected. (Hume 1772, xxxi) Generally the in consistencies are cited from the Treatise, which fails to recognize the purpose of the Enquiry. This brings us to the possible tension between the two definitions. J.A. Robinson, for example, believes the two definitions cannot refer to the same thing. Don Garrett feels that the two definitions are possible, but only with further interpretation. I will argue that the tension arises from a possible forgetfulness on the part of the reader about Humes aims as a philosopher, and that Humes Enquiry stands on its own without any need for a critics extrapolations. To understand Humes interpretation of causation and the arguments against it, we essential first follow the steps Hume took to come to his conclusion. This requires brief consideration of Humes copy princi... ...place. If both definitions of cause are necessary for a full understand of the word, and an absolute reading becomes problematic and unnecessary, then neither Robinsons nor Garretts interpretations are correct. If my a ccount of Humes mitigated skepticism is correct, then I adopt no need to go any further than the Enquiry to understand Humes theory of causation. As a philosopher, Hume recognized the constraints of our reasoning, and as a man, he was able to give an explanation for our actions.Works CitedHume, David, 1772 (reprinted in 2004) An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (New York, Barnes and Noble)Garrett, Don, 1997. Cognition and Commitment in Humes Philosophy (New York, Oxford)Robinson, J.A., 1962. Humes Two Definitions of Cause. The Philosophical Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 47, 162-171.1 Modern Philosophy lecture. 3/30/05. Dr. Ott