PHIL 101: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

 

 

Name__________________________

 

Reading Questions: Hume’s Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding.

Answer the following questions in a sentence or two.

  1. Why is it, according to Hume, that matters of fact (what we called "synthetic facts") can never be known simply on the basis of pure thought alone (i.e., a priori) the way the truths of geometry can?

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  2. What assumption does Hume say we are making when we draw conclusions about unobserved matters of fact, e.g., about matters of fact pertaining to the future?

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  3. How does Hume argue that the assumption just indicated is unjustified? What are the consequences of this?

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  4. In his "Sceptical Solution" of his doubts, Hume denies that conclusions about unobserved matters of fact are products of reason. What does he say is the basis of our practice of drawing such conclusions, and what is this basis itself rooted in?

     

     

     

  5. Hume claims that we never observe causal or necessary connection between events. What then is the basis of any claim of causal connection, and what does that imply about the reality of this relation?