Discuss On Hume’s "Causation"

"Causation" is a classic problem in the history of modern philosophy and science.Hume formed his unique thinking and understanding of causation on the basis of accepting the relevant research achievements of previous philosophers,and had an important impact on the history of philosophy.This paper is divided into four chapters.It discusses the research status,background,concrete content and modern controversies of Hume’s theory of causation.The first chapter is the exordium of this paper.The author sorts out the domestic and foreign scholars’ research on Hume’s causation,and puts forward the research theme and key issues of this paper.The second chapter examines the theoretical background of Hume’s thought of causation.Firstly,I investigate the basic meaning of causation in modern English,and then briefly review the representative causal theory in the history of philosophy.All of these theories became important references for Hume when he thought about the problem of causation.The third chapter is the focus of the thesis.I analyze Hume’s causal theory in detail.Specifically,it is divided into three aspects: "impression and concept","memory and imagination" and "the determinative condition of causation".I think that Hume’s causal theory is proved through the following logical links.First of all,impression is the starting point of perception,impression forms its corresponding concept in the mind.Secondly,through memory and imagination,simple ideas combine to form complex ideas.In Hume’s point of view,however,because of our reason is limited,the heart be limited within the scope of the perception,the theory of idea could not explain why causation can be able to transcend empirical knowledge,expand the scope of knowledge,therefore,Hume,in the form of naturalism explained necessity for constant connect and habits,beliefs in mind.In the process of argumentation,Hume also noticed the psychological process in causal reasoning,which was neglected by his predecessors.The fourth chapter briefly introduces the historical influence of Hume’s causal theory.It mainly includes the causal theory of the representative philosophers after Hume,the classical interpretation of causation in modern philosophy and the history of science,and the debate on causation based on the conflict of "naturalism and skepticism" in modern philosophy."Causation" is a characteristic part of Hume’s philosophy,and its significance can be reflected not only in epistemology,but also in ethics.It has important enlightenments for us to understand the source of knowledge in natural science and the moral responsibility in real life.This is the purpose why Hume seeks to establish a complete science of human nature.