How Hume Became the 'New Hume': A Developmental Approach

0383452 - FLÚ 2013 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Hill, James
How Hume Became the 'New Hume': A Developmental Approach.
Journal of Scottish Philosophy. Roč. 10, č. 2 (2012), s. 163-181. ISSN 1479-6651
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GAP401/10/1504
Institutional support: RVO:67985955
Keywords : Hume * causation * Newton * active powers * gravitation
Subject RIV: AA - Philosophy ; Religion

It is argued that we should distinguish between an 'early Hume' and a 'mature Hume' on causality. In his early period, represented by the Treatise, Hume had not yet adopted Newtonian active principles. In the mature period, however, represented in particular by the First Enquiry, his theory of causation has been transformed by a reception of Newton. This leads Hume to drop the condition of contiguity, which had excluded action-at-a-distance in the Treatise. It also leads him to allow real necessary connexions in nature which are inaccessible to us just as the real cause of gravitation was thought by Newtonians to be unknown.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0213386