Hume's Concept of the Self
Summary
TLDRThis script explores David Hume's concept of the self, contrasting it with the views of Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes. Hume argues that the self is an illusion, as we cannot concretely experience or have an impression of such an entity. He critiques the idea of the self as an unchanging substance, suggesting that our mental states are merely a collection of impressions linked by the laws of association: resemblance, contiguity, and cause and effect. Hume's empiricism emphasizes that knowledge of matters of fact comes solely from experience, and our understanding of cause and effect is based on habit rather than a priori reasoning. This perspective challenges the traditional metaphysical view of an enduring self.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Hume's concept of the self is a radical departure from traditional philosophers like Descartes, Plato, and Aristotle who believed in an unchanging 'self' or 'soul'.
- 💭 For Hume, the 'self' is an illusion because we cannot have an impression of it, suggesting that discussions of the self by other philosophers are merely semantic.
- 🌟 Hume's theory of ideas posits that all ideas come from either sensation or reflection, which he terms 'impressions'.
- 🔗 Hume's laws of association (resemblance, contiguity, and cause/effect) link our ideas to form a coherent whole.
- 🤔 Hume emphasizes that ideas not representing real experiences are abstract and meaningless, challenging the concept of an unchanging self.
- 🔍 Perception and reason are the faculties through which we understand impressions and propositions, respectively, according to Hume.
- 📊 Propositions about relations of ideas can be known intuitively or demonstratively, without empirical evidence.
- 🍬 Matters of fact, however, require empirical evidence to establish their truth, such as tasting sugar to know it's sweet.
- 🔄 Hume is an empiricist, asserting that our knowledge of facts comes from sensory experience and memory.
- ❓ Central to Hume's theory of knowledge is the question of how we extend our knowledge beyond immediate sensory experience.
- 🔄 Our understanding of cause and effect is not先天的 but based on habitual experience, which Hume sees as the basis for our predictions about reality.
Q & A
What is the main difference between Hume's concept of the self and that of philosophers like Descartes, Plato, and Aristotle?
-Hume's concept of the self differs significantly as he argues that there is no such thing as a self. Unlike Descartes, Plato, and Aristotle who believed in an unchanging substance or soul that persists through time, Hume sees the self as an illusion, a concept without a concrete impression or experience.
What does Hume mean when he says that the soul, mind, or self is one of those meaningless words?
-Hume suggests that because we do not have an impression of the self as a substance, the terms soul, mind, or self are abstract and without concrete meaning. They are words we use without a clear understanding of what they represent, making them meaningless in the philosophical discussion of the self.
How does Hume's theory of ideas relate to his concept of the self?
-Hume's theory of ideas, which states that all ideas come from impressions through sensation or reflection, is central to his concept of the self. Since we do not have an impression of a self as a substance, Hume concludes that the idea of the self is not a real entity but a mental construct.
What are the three laws of association according to Hume?
-Hume's three laws of association are resemblance, contiguity in time or place, and cause and effect. These laws explain how our mind links different ideas together to form coherent thoughts and understanding.
How does Hume's view on the law of cause and effect differ from that of rationalists?
-Hume argues that our knowledge of cause and effect comes entirely from experience, not from a priori reasoning as rationalists believe. He rejects the idea of a necessary connection between cause and effect, suggesting that such connections are perceived through habit or custom, not through reason.
What role does perception play in Hume's theory of knowledge?
-In Hume's theory of knowledge, perception provides the raw data of experience. It is through the faculty of perception that we receive impressions or ideas, which are then processed by the faculty of reason to form our understanding of the world.
How does Hume define propositions in his theory of knowledge?
-Hume defines propositions as either a priori statements about relations of ideas or empirical statements about matters of fact and real existence. Relations of ideas can be known intuitively or demonstratively, while matters of fact require empirical evidence.
What does Hume mean when he says we are just a bunch of impressions?
-Hume suggests that instead of an unchanging self or substance, we are a collection of fleeting impressions and experiences. There is no underlying, constant self; rather, our sense of self is a product of our continuous stream of perceptions and thoughts.
How does Hume's concept of the self challenge traditional metaphysical views?
-Hume's concept of the self challenges traditional metaphysical views by denying the existence of an unchanging, independent substance or soul. He argues that the self is not a metaphysical entity but a psychological construct based on our experiences and habits.
What is the role of experience in Hume's theory of the self?
-Experience is crucial in Hume's theory of the self as it is the basis for all our ideas, including the idea of the self. According to Hume, since we do not have a direct experience of the self as a substance, the concept of the self is not grounded in empirical reality but is a product of our mental associations.
Outlines
🤔 Hume's Skeptical View on the Self
This paragraph discusses the philosophical divergence of David Hume's concept of the self from those of Descartes, Plato, and Aristotle. Hume argues that the notion of a self is an illusion, as there is no empirical evidence or impression of a self as a continuous substance. Traditionally, philosophers like Plato and Aristotle used the term 'soul', and Descartes used 'mind', to describe an unchanging essence that persists through time, housing all mental states. In contrast, Hume asserts that we cannot have an impression of such an entity, rendering terms like 'soul', 'mind', or 'self' meaningless. He critiques the idea that these philosophers are merely debating semantics without concrete experience of the self. Hume's theory of ideas, influenced by John Locke, posits that ideas originate from impressions (sensation and reflection) and are meaningless if they don't correspond to real experiences. He introduces the laws of association—resemblance, contiguity, and cause and effect—as the basis for how ideas form a coherent whole in our minds.
🔍 Hume's Theory of Ideas and Causality
The second paragraph delves deeper into Hume's theory of ideas, emphasizing the law of cause and effect as a cornerstone of his philosophy. Hume distinguishes between two types of propositions: a priori statements about relations of ideas, which can be known intuitively or demonstratively without empirical evidence, and empirical statements about matters of fact and real existence, which require experience. He challenges the rationalist view that the cause and effect relationship is based on a priori reasoning, arguing instead that our understanding of causality is derived solely from experience. Hume contends that what we perceive as a necessary connection between cause and effect is actually a product of habit or custom, not reason. This perspective leads to his broader epistemological inquiry into how we can be certain of the existence of facts in reality, beyond what our senses and memory directly provide.
🧠 The Illusion of the Self in Hume's Philosophy
In the final paragraph, the concept of the self is revisited through the lens of Hume's theory of ideas. Hume's skepticism extends to the self, as he argues that introspection does not reveal any impression or idea of a self as a substance. He suggests that the idea of the self is a natural but inevitable fiction, arising from our existence and accustomed thinking. Hume likens the self to a bundle of impressions rather than an unchanging substance, asserting that the belief in a self is a supposition without empirical support. He concludes that while it is natural to discuss the self due to our existence and habits, the notion of an unchanging self is an illusion. This aligns with his broader skepticism towards metaphysical concepts that lack empirical grounding.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Self
💡Substance
💡Impression
💡Empiricism
💡Cause and Effect
💡Association of Ideas
💡Rationalism
💡A Priori Reasoning
💡Matters of Fact
💡Relations of Ideas
Highlights
Hume's concept of the self runs counter to philosophers like Descartes, Plato, and Aristotle, as he argues that the self is an illusion.
Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes believed that the soul or mind is a substance that remains the same through time, but Hume disagrees.
Hume contends that if the self were a substance, we should have an impression of it, yet we do not, making the concept of the self meaningless.
Hume criticizes philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes for arguing about words without having any concrete experience of the soul, mind, or self.
According to Hume, the idea of the self is a mere fiction, similar to the abstract idea of a unicorn, which does not exist in reality.
Hume's theory of ideas asserts that impressions, which are both sensations and reflections, are the basis for all knowledge.
Ideas that do not represent something real are considered abstract and meaningless, according to Hume.
Hume describes three laws of association: resemblance, contiguity in time or place, and cause and effect, with emphasis on the third.
The law of cause and effect is central to Hume’s theory of knowledge and helps explain human understanding of reality.
For Hume, knowledge of cause and effect comes entirely from experience, not from reasoning a priori, as the rationalists claim.
The idea of a necessary connection between cause and effect is a product of habit and custom, not reason, according to Hume.
For Hume, the only valid evidence of real existence comes from sensory experiences, memory, and empirical observations.
Hume's theory of knowledge challenges the rationalist idea of a priori reasoning, emphasizing experience as the basis of understanding.
Hume famously concludes that we are merely a 'bundle of impressions' rather than possessing a stable, unchanging self.
While the idea of the self feels natural and inevitable to us, Hume argues that it is merely a fiction created by our perceptions and habits.
Transcripts
hume's concept
of the self
hume's concept of the self does not only
differ
but runs counter to descartes and the
other philosophers of the self
such as plato and aristotle
this is because for you there is
no such thing as a self
let me briefly explain why for hume the
concept of the self
is an illusion
first we need to clarify the term soul
that plato and aristotle used and mind
that descartes used for plato
aristotle descartes and other
philosophers who engaged in this
issue the term soul or mind
refers to a thing or substance which is
supposed to be
invariably the same through time
so these philosophers understood the
soul as
a substance and as we may already know
a substance is understood in traditional
metaphysics
as anything material or immaterial
whose existence is independent on
anything else
so for these thinkers the soul
or mind is the seat for all our mental
states
such as thinking analyzing imagining
and the like this means that
the i that is the self is the same
all throughout one's lifetime
one may change physically or emotionally
but the i or self remains
the same now for you
if we possess this substance then we
must have an
impression of it however
for you we do not and cannot have an
impression of such idea
for hume therefore the term soul
mind or self is one of those meaningless
words that we utter
so for you plato aristotle descartes and
the rest of the philosophers of the self
we're arguing only about words
simply because neither of them knows
exactly what a soul
mind or self is they don't experience it
concretely in the first place according
to you
but how did you arrive at the idea that
there
is no such thing as the idea of the self
let us now turn to hume's theory of
ideas
first we have to remember that hume
neither affirms nor denies
the idea of the self it's just that for
you
talking about it simply doesn't make
sense
the reason behind hume's claim that
there is no such thing as the idea of
the self can be gleaned from his theory
of ideas
so on hume's theory of ideas
as john locke argues ideas come from
sensation and reflection
hume calls it impression
hence it must be noted that when you use
the term impression
he means idea when we say impression in
hume
this includes both sensation and
reflection
in luck and for hume
we can have an idea that is an
impression of
something if we experience it concretely
for this reason hume argues that
ideas that do not represent something in
reality
is an abstract idea and therefore
meaningless the idea of a unicorn is an
example of an abstract idea
because in the first place there is no
unicorn in reality
for you there is a multiplicity of
ideas yet all these ideas
are linked together that form a coherent
whole
according to hume this is made possible
by the laws of association
according to hume there are three laws
of association
that is first resemblance second
contiguity in time or place and
third cause and effect
hume says that in the law of resemblance
the idea of one object tends to call to
mind
ideas of resembling objects
for instance the idea of honey resembles
the ideas of
sweet and liquid
in the law of contiguity in time and
place
hume says that when we think of
thunder for instance we tend to think of
lightning
or rain
in the law of cause and effect hume says
that
when we think of for instance the idea
of
a fresh egg falling to the ground
it calls to mind the idea of splattered
mess
please note that hume puts more emphasis
on the third law of
cause and effect as a matter of fact
the law of cause and effect is one of
the most important concepts in hume's
theory of ideas
this explains why after talking about
the law of cause and effect
hume proceeds to the discussion on
perception
and reasoning
according to yume human understanding
is furnished with a faculty of
perception and the faculty of
reason on the one hand
the object of perception are impressions
or ideas and on the other hand
the object of reason are propositions
according to yume propositions are
either
a priori statements about relations of
ideas
or empirical statements about matters of
fact
and real existence
for you relations of ideas can be known
intuitively
or demonstratively
for example the proposition all
triangles have three
angles is an example of a proposition
that can be known intuitively
the proposition the sum total of all
three angles in a right triangle is
equal
to 180 degrees is an example of a
proposition
that can be known demonstratively
it is important to note that in
relations of ideas
the truth can be established without
empirical evidence
in fact in both examples we don't need
to resort to experience
before we can truly say that all
triangles have three angles
or indeed the sum total of all three
angles in a right triangle
is equal to 180 degrees
through mental processes alone we can
truly say
that indeed the propositions are
absolutely true
matters of fact for you are propositions
whose truth can be discovered through
experience alone
take for example the proposition sugar
is
sweet obviously one cannot really say
that indeed sugar is sweet if one has
not tasted it
hence we can never come to know that
sugar is sweet without resorting to
experience
it must be noted that it is matters of
fact that concerns hume
in fact hume's theory of knowledge
centers on the idea of
matters of fat hume
asks what is the nature of the empirical
evidence
which assures us of any real existence
of matters of fact
according to you we are assured of some
facts by the present testimony of our
senses
or by the records of our memory
in other words for you we know that
facts exist in reality simply because
we experience them this explains
why hume was an empiricist
but the question is by what means
do we get beyond such facts in other
words
how can we be sure that such facts exist
in reality
this is the central question in hume's
theory of knowledge
which he developed in his famous work
inquiry concerning human understanding
so again by what means do we get
beyond such facts
according to hume it is by means of the
relation
of cause and effect that we are enabled
to make
more or less reasonable predictions and
conjectures
that go beyond the data of perception
and memory
but how do we arrive at the knowledge of
cause and effect
the answer for you is not reasoning a
priori
as the rationalists would have us
believe but
entirely from experience
again for you our knowledge of the cause
and effect relation
remains limited to experience
of course the mind steps beyond
experience
and engage in reasoning but for you
this kind of reasoning is not supported
by any argument or process of
understanding
through relations of ideas or through
reasoning
a priori this kind of reasoning
for you is supported by habit
or custom
now it must be noted that for the
rationalists
cause and effect relation falls under a
priority reasoning
in other words for the rationalists
there is
a necessary connection between cause and
effect
for example if it is raining at the
moment
then reason tells us that the road must
be wet
however for you in reality
there is no necessary connection between
the two events
between cause and effect
the idea of a necessary connection is
produced in the mind
not through reason a priori but through
habit or custom
hence hume did not reject the idea of
connection whole
sale he only rejects the idea of
connection
employed in metaphysical reasoning that
is
the a priori reasoning in rationalism
again for you there is connection
only through experience which is based
on habit
hence the only evidence assuring us of
any real
existence and matters of fact is
experience that is the present testimony
of our senses
the records of our memory and the causal
reasoning
based on the empirically observed
irregularities of past
experience
now let's go back to hume's concept of
the self and apply what we have learned
from his theory of ideas
for you if we look inside ourselves
we cannot find an impression that is
an idea of a self as a substance
in other words we cannot experience
the self concretely hence for you
we have no reason to suppose that we
are selves or mind or souls
as hume famously says we are just
a bunch of impressions
this means that like the idea of an
ultimate or necessary cause
the idea of self is natural and
inevitable we are inclined to
think about the self because we exist
because we are accustomed to it
however for you like the idea of an
ultimate and necessary cause
the idea of a self is a mere
fiction again
the idea of the self is anything but a
bundle of impressions
or in other words the idea of the self
is just a supposition
indeed for you the idea of the self
is simply an idea and there is no
guarantee that it exists in reality
again it is natural to talk about it
because we exist
because we are accustomed to it but to
suppose that there
is within us an unchanging substance
called the self
is an illusion at least for you
you
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