XMind

Hume's dilemma

part of notes for a work in progress on semantics and cognition (drschnauzer) - this is in no way a critique of the excellent presentation by William Edward Morris.

1. Mind

2. Habit

3. Causality

   cf. note for Past

4. Past

   a cause (is defined) as "an object followed by another, and whose appearance always conveys the thought to that other" WEM (SEP)

5. Future

   see the note to Induction - The only cognitive operation seems to be a causal implication, but again only supported by belief (fire -> warmth).

6. Induction

   How can we justify extending our conclusions from past observation and experience to the future? asks William Edward Morris. - My own comments: There seems to be no room for either inference or induction. Any process related to the mind is considered as secondary to belief. Hume's world knows no regularity and is devoid of any scientific activity.

7. Belief

   Belief is "a peculiar sentiment, or lively conception produced by habit" that results from the manner in which ideas are conceived, and "in their feeling to the mind." William Edward Morris, Hume, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

   1. senses

   2. memory

8. Reasoning

   our "reasonings" - obviously Hume did not have a high opinion of intellectual operations. - "Expecting that fire will warm (...) isn't just conceiving of its warming, it is believing that it will warm."

   1. Idea