Hume on Causation

Causation is one of the most important and enduring topics in philosophy, going back to Aristotle. In this important book, Helen Beebee covers all the major debates and issues in the philosophy of causation. Beginning with an introduction to the concept, Causation examines the most important philosopher of causation, David Hume, and assesses the problems of induction and necessary connection in light of Hume's thought. Beebee then investigates different theories of causation and challenges to the Humane approach. She considers the concepts of regularity, causal experience, necessity, and essences. Throughout the book, she examines and critically discusses other important philosophers on causation, including JL Mackie, John Wright, and Brian Ellis.

Helen Beebee is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham.

Acknowledgements

vii

A note on references

viii

1 Introduction

1

(13)

1.1 Hume's targets

2

(3)

1.2 Three concerns: genetic, epistemological and semantic

5

(3)

1.3 The interpretative options

8

(3)

1.4 Overview of the book

11

(3)

2 A priori reasoning and the genesis of knowledge

14

(22)

2.1 Impressions, ideas and relations

15

(3)

2.2 Intuition and demonstration

18

(4)

2.3 Demonstration and the genesis of knowledge

22

(2)

2.4 Demonstration and deduction

24

(8)

2.5 Reasoning concerning matters of fact and existence

32

(4)

3 Causal reasoning and the genesis of belief

36

(39)

3.1 The traditional problem of induction

36

(2)

3.2 Is the problem of induction Hume's problem?

38

(5)

3.3 The explanation of belief in matters of fact

43

(2)

3.4 Reasoning without the aid of experience

45

(5)

3.5 The Uniformly Principle

50

(6)

3.6 Causal reasoning and secret powers

56

(2)

3.7 Hume's positive account of causal reasoning

58

(5)

3.8 Causal reasoning and inductive inference

63

(3)

3.9 What justifies causal reasoning?

66

(9)

4 The idea of necessary connection

75

(33)

4.1 What is Hume looking for? Single instances of causes and effects

76

(6)

4.2 Locating the source: the transition of the mind

82

(6)

4.3 Necessary connection and causal experience

88

(3)

4.4 Is necessary connection all in the mind?

91

(3)

4.5 The two definitions

94

(5)

4.6 Causation as a natural and philosophical relation

99

(8)

4.7 Conclusion

107

(1)

5 The traditional interpretation

108

(34)

5.1 Conceptual empiricism and projection

110

(9)

5.2 Necessary connections and unknown qualities

119

(5)

5.3 Different versions of the traditional interpretation

124

(5)

5.4 The two definitions again

129

(3)

5.5 Constant conjunction and contiguity: a priori truths or empirical discoveries?

132

(4)

5.6 The problem of accidental regularities

136

(5)

5.7 Conclusion

141

(1)

6 Projectivism

142

6.1 Projection and projectivism

142

(8)

6.2 Causal, ethical and aesthetic projectivism

150

(7)

6.3 Causation and inference

157

(7)

6.4 Causal and accidental regularities again

164

(3)

6.5 What does the idea of necessary connection add?

167

7 Sceptical realism 1

73

(153)

7.1 Ideas, representation and the external world

175

(5)

7.2 Real powers in Hume's discussion of causal reasoning

180

(6)

7.3 Real powers in Hume's discussion of the idea of necessary connection

186

(7)

7.4 Varieties of sceptical realism

193

(8)

7.5 Belief in real powers

201

(9)

7.6 The cosmic luck argument

210

(4)

7.7 Varieties of sceptical realism again

214

(2)

7.8 Which interpretation is right?

216

(10)

Notes

226

(5)

Bibliography

231

(3)

Index

234

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Summary

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