Humean Definition of Causality

This paper discusses the Humean theory of causality and its implementation in daily life. It also explores the limitations of the theory and how it affects the relation of the mind to the body, free will, and actions. The theory of causality is a presupposition in every form of argument and holds an important place in philosophy and science. The paper also discusses the epistemology of the knowledge acquisition process.

Running head: HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
David Hume is one of the most celebrated philosophers of the 18th century. The
philosopher is known to have been one of the philosophers who have been writing in English and
is known to be the last of the members of the triumvirate who were members of the British
triumvirate. The major works that were composed by the celebrated philosopher refers to the
works entitled A Treatise of Human Nature published in the year 1739 and the book entitled An
Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding published in the year 17481. The philosopher aimed
at challenging the then traditional beliefs in the several ways that led to shock the readers of the
given time period as well as aimed to draw the attention of the philosophers who have been
residing in the society till date. The philosopher is known for the discussion and the opinions that
he had put forth in the matters that deal with the theories of causality, the problems that might
occur in personal identity and induction as well2. The theory of causality as stated by Hume is
known to be partially correct as described by the philosophers in the current days. The claim that
“the Humean definition of causality is correct” is not always applicable.
The following paper attempts a discussion on the Humean theory of causality. The essay
opens with the discussion on the theory of causality as stated by the celebrated Scottish
philosopher David Hume. The essay further proceeds to deal with the implementation of the
theory of causality in the regular lives of the people. The essay further proceeds to discuss the
limitations of the implementation of the theory of causality as discussed by David Hume.
The theory of causality as discussed by the famous philosopher David Hume refers to the
theory of reasoning as is present within the everyday functions of the human beings. The
causality is involved in all the exercises that are undertaken by the human beings in their daily
1 Strawson, Galen. The Secret Connexion: Causation, Realism, and David Hume: Revised Edition. Oxford
University Press, 2014.
2 Whelan, Frederick J. Order and Artifice in Hume's Political Philosophy. Vol. 4899. Princeton University
Press, 2017.

2HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
activities all over the world. The causality as stated by Hume is considered to be a presupposition
within every given form of argument that is undertaken by the human beings in their lifetime.
The causality as stated by Hume is known to have been implemented in any given sphere of
argument that is implemented by the concerned human being3. The theory of causality as
discussed by the philosophers is well known to have been holding an important place in the
subject of philosophy and majorly in the matters that are related to the philosophy of science.
According to the theory proposed by Hume, causality is known to be the cementing factor of the
universe. This implies that the causality is considered to be one of the factors that have been
holding the universe together since time immemorial. The relation the body to the mind is
dependent on the understanding of the actual nature of the causes. The aftereffect of the
understanding of the causes also affect the various factors like the relation of the minds to the
bodies, the ways in which the free will might work4. It also affects that the influence of the ideas
over the actions that are undertaken by the human beings. The causality also affects the changes
that are produced in the bodies due to their association with the other bodies in discussion.
The theory of causality tends to implore the fact that the entire mankind attempts to put
forth a causative approach towards the actions that it performs for the others. The theory of
causality implements a natural attribution that is observed in the relationship that exists between
the cause and the effect of the phenomena. This is however found to be an anterior element in the
philosophical analysis and statements on the given topic. The question of causality within the
human mind arises when they tend to discuss the actual meaning of statement like “B is caused
by A”5. The answer to the given question is known to be the concept of the causation in the given
3 Fay, Brian. Social theory and political practice (RLE social theory). Routledge, 2014.
4 Broad, Charlie Dunbar. Five types of ethical theory. Routledge, 2014.
5 Anscombe, Elizabeth. "Causality and determination." Agency And Responsiblity. Routledge, 2018. 57-73.

3HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
case. The implementation of the theories in the philosophical sense puts forth various questions
that are deeper than is relevant in the first place.
It is observed that the philosophers that existed before Hume stated the fact that the
propositions on causation to be a necessary truth were considered to be a priori statements.
These philosophers claimed that there is a cause behind every single action and that certain
particular actions have certain particular effects. The philosophers prior to Hume were observed
to have prior knowledge of the cause as well as the effect of certain actions. They claimed that
the logical realm runs alongside the realms of causality6. The philosophers of the era prior to
Hume, Spinoza for example, considered metaphysics to be a universal account. The philosophers
stated that the universe had developed from several definitions especially as a matter that needs
nothing externa; for its being or conception in addition to some assumptions that were evident in
themselves.
Thus, it might be said that the three major features of the older account of the causality
included the features that stated the fact that the propositions that were maintained about
causation were known to be necessary truths. It also stated that the propositions about certain
cases were known to be a priori conditions. The philosophers practicing the old school of
causality stated that the propositions that were stated regarding certain cases involved the causal
as well as the logical connections7. The old school of philosophers on the issue further stated that
the rationalist metaphysics that were practiced by the philosophers like Spinoza were made
possible due to the nature of the causality that was practiced during those times.
6 Strawson, Peter. The bounds of sense: An essay on Kant’s critique of pure reason. Routledge, 2018.
7 Bhaskar, Roy. The possibility of naturalism: A philosophical critique of the contemporary human
sciences. Routledge, 2014.

4HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
The most famous of the various analyses put forth by Hume were implemented in the
spheres of the causality and the apprehension of the humans8. These two analyses were the most
significant of all the philosophical analyses that were conducted in the given period and are
known to have been continuing to bear almost the similar amount of significance in the present
days as well. the significance of Hume’s study lies in his realization of the importance of the
analysis of the apprehension of the human beings. During the time of Hume’s active
philosophical career, the causality was utilized as a mode of being the ways that enable
guaranteeing the veracity of the world9. Thus, the various questions on the causality principle
might lead to serious consequences for the knowledge on the world.
The epistemology as implemented by the celebrated Scottish philosopher, David Hume
aimed at the discussion on the epistemology from the scientific point of view. Epistemology is a
philosophical field of study that generally deals with the nature as well as the processes of the
knowledge acquirement. Hume had in his study incorporated the scientific factors of study on the
nature of the knowledge acquirement that is followed by the human beings10. This includes the
knowledge possessed by the human beings on objects that are material like the several worldly
objects as well as the abstract objects like the various universals that are existent within the given
area. The philosopher had also included in his study the knowledge of the person regarding the
interactions that are taking place among the human beings.
The celebrated philosopher is known to have implemented all the various ways in which
the causal reasoning of the human being might follow from reason. According to the philosopher
the causal reasoning should not be referred to as the reasoning that is existent between the ideas
8 Mulder, Jesse M. "The limits of Humeanism." European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2018): 1-17.
9 Groff, Ruth. "Causal Mechanisms and the Philosophy of Causation." Journal for the Theory of Social
Behaviour 47.3 (2017): 286-305.
10 Anjum, Rani Lill, and Stephen Mumford. "A Dynamic Theory of Causation." Everything Flows:
Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology (2018): 61.

5HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
and the relations that are concerned. The effects of the various events are known to have been
different from the causes and might not always be occurring together11. The philosopher had
further argued that the causes of certain effects are not always revealed thereby leading to the
conditions wherein there might not exist any connection among the two conditions. This reveals
that the causal relationship as discussed by the philosopher, David Hume, is not necessarily a
priori reasoning.
However, in many cases it might be observed that the causes are often related to the
effects. This is majorly revealed through the implementation of the experience of the given
person on the matter rather than the knowledge of the given person on the reason behind the
concerned connection between the cause and the effect of the concerned action. The relation the
body to the mind is dependent on the understanding of the actual nature of the causes12. The
aftereffect of the understanding of the causes also affect the various factors like the relation of
the minds to the bodies, the ways in which the free will might work. It also affects that the
influence of the ideas over the actions that are undertaken by the human beings. The theory of
causality holds true in cases wherein the future instances hold similarity with the past instances.
In these cases, the person making the claim is known to have been majorly dependent on the
experiences in order to deal with the future course of actions13. The reason that is cited by the
person for predicting a certain course of action should be based on the facts and should be
established on the basis of arguments and reasoning. The reasons that are provided only on the
basis of the intuition are not accepted as reasons that are worthy enough of consideration.
11 Reiss, Julian. Causation, evidence, and inference. Routledge, 2015.
12 Suganami, Hidemi. "On the Hume/Bhaskar contrast in philosophical metatheory of international
relations." Journal of International Relations and Development 20.4 (2017): 667-688.
13 Schurz, Gerhard, and Alexander Gebharter. "Causality as a theoretical concept: Explanatory warrant and
empirical content of the theory of causal nets." Synthese 193.4 (2016): 1073-1103.

6HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
In this scenario might be put forth one of the most favorite examples of David Hume.
This example is based on the belief of the earthly residents that the sun will be rising the next
day14. The philosophical theory states that this is based on the existent belief that the sun rises
every morning. The belief is backed by the scientific claim of the rotation of the earth. The
rotation of the earth in this case is the cause behind the sunrises. However, the causal reasoning
depicted in this case is based solely on the past observations. The prediction of the future events
however cannot be justified on the basis of the past actions15. Thus, according to the theory of
causality, there exists no rational reason for the belief that the sun will rise the next morning as
well.
However, there is found a major point of limitation in the argument that is put forth by
Hume. In his claim that the propositions that are related to the causations might be termed as the
necessary truths, the philosopher puts forth a rejection of the discovery that is made by the
human beings on the basis of the experience that they have gathered in their life time. It is
observed that the first experience of the conjunction of a certain cause and the following effect is
the first time that the person might have been experiencing the situation16. Thus, it might not be
possible for the concerned person to consider the situation on a priori basis and put forth a
deduction of the various consequences that might be revealed as an effect of the given cause.
Thus, it might be pointed out that the causality might not be considered to be a logical relation
but however, might be treated completely as a matter of experience for the person concerned.
The theory of causality as put forth by Hume is known to be providing the readers with the
14 Mulder, Jesse M. "The limits of Humeanism." European Journal for Philosophy of Science (2018): 1-17.
15 Bhaskar, Roy. Enlightened common sense: The philosophy of critical realism. Routledge, 2016.
16 Simpson, William MR. "1 The Resurrection of Causal Powers." Neo-Aristotelian Perspectives on
Contemporary Science(2017).

7HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
paradigm of the functionalities of the theories of the causality17. It is observed that the people
have limited experience in the nature as is depicted by the bounds of the various causes and the
effects of the concerned causes. Thus, people tend to infer both the causes and the effects of
those causes from one instance to the other18. This heavily points out the limitations of the human
knowledge in pursuit of the aims in science and mathematics.
The theory of causality as put forth by Hume is majorly observed to be a proposition that
is majorly based on the operational mechanism of the human mind. The philosopher suggests
that the causal reasoning as depicted by the mankind is majorly based on the habits that are
maintained by the people. It is further argued that the causal reasoning is not based on the issues
that consider the knowledge in the field of logic or mathematics. Hume believes in the fact that
there exists contingency in believing factual matters19. Thus, the conclusion that has been drawn
by Hume depicts the contingency in itself and lacks justification on the basis of reason. This
leads to the conditions wherein the philosophical statement put forth by Hume is nullified on the
basis of the premises that were declared by Hume himself20. The logical positivism as suggested
by Hume also faces the same fate. The central and the most important factor of logical positivism
states that nothing can be considered to be the truth unless it is verified on an empirical basis.
This leads to the death of the concept of logical positivism.
It might also be stated that the arguments that were put forth by Hume demonstrated a
combination of the processes of the induction as well as the deduction that are implemented in
the study of philosophy. The theory of causality as discussed by Hume is observed to be divided
17 Psillos, Stathis. Causation and explanation. Routledge, 2014.
18 Bunge, Mario. Causality and modern science. Routledge, 2017.
19 Waldner, David. "Process tracing and qualitative causal inference." Security Studies 24.2 (2015): 239-
250. 20 Licata, Gaetano. "Aristotle’s Doctrine of Causes and the Manipulative Theory of
Causality." Axiomathes (2018): 1-14.

8HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
into two different parts21. One of the parts is objective in nature while the other is subjective in
nature. A close reading and analysis of the theory as proposed by David Hume states that the
causality is not an independent idea but is majorly definable in terms of the sequence that is
followed within the activity.
In lieu of the above discussion it might be stated that the theory of causality as discussed
by Hume is not correct in a universal manner. The causality is involved in all the exercises that
are undertaken by the human beings in their daily activities all over the world. The causality as
stated by Hume is considered to be a presupposition within every given form of argument that is
undertaken by the human beings in their lifetime. The causality as stated by Hume is known to
have been implemented in any given sphere of argument that is implemented by the concerned
human being. The theory of causality as discussed by the philosophers is well known to have
been holding an important place in the subject of philosophy and majorly in the matters that are
related to the philosophy of science. The theory of causality holds true in cases wherein the
future instances hold similarity with the past instances. In these cases, the person making the
claim is known to have been majorly dependent on the experiences in order to deal with the
future course of actions. The reason that is cited by the person for predicting a certain course of
action should be based on the facts and should be established on the basis of arguments and
reasoning. Thus, it might be pointed out that the causality might not be considered to be a logical
relation but however, might be treated completely as a matter of experience for the person
concerned.
21 Ellis, Brian. The philosophy of nature: A guide to the new essentialism. Routledge, 2014.

9HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
References
Anjum, Rani Lill, and Stephen Mumford. "A Dynamic Theory of Causation." Everything Flows:
Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology (2018): 61.
Anscombe, Elizabeth. "Causality and determination." Agency And Responsiblity. Routledge,
2018. 57-73.
Bhaskar, Roy. Enlightened common sense: The philosophy of critical realism. Routledge, 2016.
Bhaskar, Roy. The possibility of naturalism: A philosophical critique of the contemporary
human sciences. Routledge, 2014.
Broad, Charlie Dunbar. Five types of ethical theory. Routledge, 2014.
Bunge, Mario. Causality and modern science. Routledge, 2017.
Ellis, Brian. The philosophy of nature: A guide to the new essentialism. Routledge, 2014.
Fay, Brian. Social theory and political practice (RLE social theory). Routledge, 2014.
Groff, Ruth. "Causal Mechanisms and the Philosophy of Causation." Journal for the Theory of
Social Behaviour 47.3 (2017): 286-305.
Licata, Gaetano. "Aristotle’s Doctrine of Causes and the Manipulative Theory of
Causality." Axiomathes (2018): 1-14.
Mulder, Jesse M. "The limits of Humeanism." European Journal for Philosophy of
Science (2018): 1-17.
Psillos, Stathis. Causation and explanation. Routledge, 2014.
Reiss, Julian. Causation, evidence, and inference. Routledge, 2015.

10HUMEAN DEFINITION OF CAUSALITY
Schurz, Gerhard, and Alexander Gebharter. "Causality as a theoretical concept: Explanatory
warrant and empirical content of the theory of causal nets." Synthese 193.4 (2016): 1073-1103.
Simpson, William MR. "1 The Resurrection of Causal Powers." Neo-Aristotelian Perspectives
on Contemporary Science(2017).
Strawson, Peter. The bounds of sense: An essay on Kant’s critique of pure reason. Routledge,
2018.
Suganami, Hidemi. "On the Hume/Bhaskar contrast in philosophical metatheory of international
relations." Journal of International Relations and Development 20.4 (2017): 667-688.
Waldner, David. "Process tracing and qualitative causal inference." Security Studies 24.2 (2015):
239-250.
Whelan, Frederick J. Order and Artifice in Hume's Political Philosophy. Vol. 4899. Princeton
University Press, 2017.
Strawson, Galen. The Secret Connexion: Causation, Realism, and David Hume: Revised Edition.
Oxford University Press, 2014.