David Hume Problem Of Induction Essay

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Problem of Induction
In this paper, I will discuss Hume’s “problem of induction,” his solution to the problem, and whether or not his solution to the problem is correct. In David Hume 's 'An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding ', Hume states that no actual proof exists to suggest that future occurrences will happen the way previous occurrences did. His solution to this “problem of induction” is that our beliefs about cause and effect are based out of pure habit of thought that we have become accustomed to. It is my belief that his solution is correct even if it does bring into question how we seemingly “reason” things with experience in our everyday lives.

Before we can begin to discuss Hume and the “problem of induction”, let 's …show more content…

Part of the reason that we expect certain things to happen just as they have before is because they have happened that way before. A great example of this is the weather. Most people expect, out of habit and past experience, the weather to be hot during the summer and cold during the winter. But those of us who reside in Texas, and other states known for their ever fluctuating weather, know that those expectations aren 't always met with the results we predict or …show more content…

One being that we assume our most trusted friends and allies will never hurt us. If your best friend were to knock on your door, you would most likely let them in with the belief that they mean you no harm. You assume they won 't hurt you because you don 't see why they would. Nothing tells you that your best friend should want to hurt you. But nothing tells you your best friend couldn 't possibly hurt you. Just because someone has proven to be trustworthy in the past doesn 't necessarily mean their actions will continue to be just as trustworthy. However, we assume that their actions will indeed be trustworthy because they 've habitually behaved in a way that we are accustomed

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