Key Concepts of Hume's Epistemology

Flashcards covering key concepts in David Hume's epistemology.

Impressions

Vivid, immediate experiences from which knowledge derives.

Ideas

Pale copies of impressions formed in the mind.

Relation of Ideas

Truths that are necessarily true, such as mathematical truths.

Matters of Fact

Empirical knowledge that is contingent and based on experience.

Causality

A mental habit; refers to the connection perceived between cause and effect.

Experimental Philosophy

Philosophy based on observation and experience; rejects traditional metaphysics.

Moderate Skepticism

Position questioning the justification of our beliefs; no absolute knowledge.

Association of Ideas

Laws governing how ideas connect: similarity, contiguity, and causality.

Influence on Kant

Hume's work influenced Kant's thoughts, prompting him to respond in the Critique of Pure Reason.

Moral Philosophy

Study of human nature from experience; essential for understanding morality.