Hume’s argument concerning induction – skeptical or explanatory?

Main Article Content

Paweł Miech

Abstract

The essay deals with problems that emerge in new interpretations of Hume’s famous argument concerning induction. In modern Hume scholarship there is a growing tendency to view Hume’s argument not as reasoning concerning the evidential value of our inductions but rather as a kind of explanation of the cognitive process of making causal inferences. The essay describes the main tenets of two currently dominant interpretations (skeptical and explanatory). In addition to discussing both interpretations, the article engages in a discussion about the meaning of Hume’s argument by confronting the old skeptical reading of Hume with new interpretations. My contribution to the discussion consists of two arguments against the explanatory tradition of viewing Hume’s argument.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Miech, Paweł. 2010. “Hume’s Argument Concerning Induction – Skeptical or Explanatory?”. Diametros, no. 24 (June):1-13. https://doi.org/10.13153/diam.24.2010.390.
Section
Special topic – Interpretations of David Hume
Author Biography

Paweł Miech

Paweł Miech – mgr filozofii Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach, student MISH Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach, doktorant w Instytucie Filozofii UŚ.
Share |

References

Baier [1991] – A. Baier, A Progress of Sentiments: Reflections on Hume's Treatise, Harvard University Press, Cambridge Mass 1991.

Bennet [2001] – J. Bennet, Learning from Six Philosophers, Clarendon Press, Oxford 2001.

Garrett [1997] – D. Garrett, Cognition and Commitment in Hume’s Philosophy, Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York 1997.

Garrett [1998] – D. Garrett, Ideas, Reason, Skepticism: Replies to my Critics, “Hume Studies” (24) 1998: 171-194.

Garrett [2001] – D. Garrett, Precis of Cognition and Commitment in Hume’s Philosophy, “Philosophy and Phenomenological Research” 62 (1) 2001: 185-189.

Hethertington [2008] – S. Hetherington, Not actually Hume’s Problem: On Induction and Knowing How, “Philosophy” (83) 2008: 459-481.

Hume [1996] – D. Hume, Treatise of Human Nature, Thoemmes Press, Bristol 1996.

Hume [1999] – D. Hume, An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, T. Beauchamp (ed.), Oxford University Press, New York 1999.

Meeker [1998] – K. Meeker, Hume – Radical Skeptic or Naturalized Epistemologist, “Hume Studies” (24) 1998: 31-53.

Millican [1995] – P. Millican, Hume’s Argument concerning Induction – Structure and Interpretation, [in:] David Hume – Critical Assessments, Vol. 2, S. Tweyman (ed.), Routledge, London 1995: 91-144.

Millican [1998] – P. Millican, Hume on Reason and Induction: Epistemology or cognitive science, “Hume Studies” (24) 1998: 141-159.

Millican [2001] – P. Millican, The Logic of Hume’s Skeptical Doubts; available from: www.davidhume.org

Millican P. [2007] – P. Millican, Hume Old and New, “Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society Supplementary” (LXXXI) 2007: 163-199.

Owen [1999] – D. Owen, Hume’s Reason, Oxford University Press, New York 1999.

Winkler [1999] – K. Winkler, Hume’s Inductive Skepticism, [in:] The Empiricists, M. Atherton (ed.), Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Oxford and New York 1999: 183-212.