David Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding - Section VII

A set of flashcards based on Hume's analysis of the concept of necessary connexion and related ideas in his philosophical inquiry.

Idea of Necessary Connexion

The concept of a relationship between cause and effect that is perceived but not directly observable.

Impression

A feeling or sensory experience that is the basis for all our ideas, according to Hume.

Power

The ability or capacity of a cause to produce its effect, which is questioned in terms of its observable qualities.

Cause and Effect

The relationship where one event (cause) is understood to produce another event (effect).

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; in Hume's view, this relates to moral and philosophical concepts.

Customary Connexion

The habitual association formed by repeated experiences that leads to the expectation of one event following another.

Volition

The exercise of will; the process of making a conscious choice or decision.

Moral Philosophy

A branch of philosophy that deals with questions of morality and ethics, which Hume argues lacks the clarity of mathematical sciences.

Geometry vs. Moral Reasoning

Hume compares the clarity and precision of geometric reasoning with the ambiguity found in moral reasoning.

Philosophical Reasonings

Logical processes used to evaluate fundamental questions in philosophy, often causing confusion when applied to abstract ideas.