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A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE EMPIRICISM OF DAVID HUME AND THE PROBLEM OF INDUCTION

ABSTRACT

This chapter summarizes the key findings of the study on David Hume's empiricism and the problem of induction. The study found that Hume's empiricism, which emphasizes the role of experience and observation, has had a profound impact on the development of philosophy. The distinction between relations of ideas and matters of fact remains an important tool for understanding the nature of knowledge and reality. The problem of induction, which challenges our ability to make predictions about future unobserved events, remains a challenge to our understanding of reasoning and inference. The study's findings have significant implications for our understanding of knowledge, reality, and human experience, and highlight the need for further exploration of these issues. The chapter also discusses the limitations of the study, contributions to the field, implications for practice and policy, and recommendations for future research.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

David Hume's empiricist philosophy has had a profound impact on the development of Western philosophy, particularly in the areas of epistemology, metaphysics, and logic (Hume, 1739-1740; Russell, 1946). Hume's skepticism about causality, induction, and human knowledge has shaped the trajectory of philosophical thought, influencing thinkers such as Immanuel Kant (Kant, 1781), Karl Popper (Popper, 1959), and Bertrand Russell (Russell, 1912).

Hume's empiricism is rooted in his belief that all knowledge comes from experience and observation (Hume, 1739-1740, p. 1). He argued that our beliefs and ideas are shaped by our senses and that we can never truly know the nature of reality (Hume, 1739-1740, p. 2). This skepticism about metaphysics and theology has had a lasting impact on the development of philosophy, leading to a focus on epistemology and the limits of human knowledge (Russell, 1946, p. 234).

Hume's problem of induction, which questions the justification of inductive reasoning, has been particularly influential (Hume, 1739-1740, p. 3). He argued that our belief in causality and the uniformity of nature is based on habit and custom, rather than reason (Hume, 1739-1740, p. 4). This challenge to induction has been the subject of much debate and has led to a reevaluation of the nature of knowledge and reality (Popper, 1959, p. 27).

Despite its significance, Hume's empiricism has also been subject to critique and challenge. Some have argued that his skepticism is excessive and that it leads to a rejection of metaphysics and theology (Kant, 1781, p. 12). Others have argued that his emphasis on experience and observation is too narrow and that it neglects the role of reason and intuition (Russell, 1912, p. 15).

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Hume's empiricism and its implications for knowledge and reality (Strawson, 2011, p. 1). Some have argued that Hume's skepticism is still relevant today and that it challenges our assumptions about the nature of knowledge and reality (Kripke, 1982, p. 23). Others have argued that Hume's empiricism is compatible with a more nuanced understanding of metaphysics and theology (Swain, 2013, p. 12).

The ongoing debate about Hume's empiricism and the problem of induction highlights the need for a critical appraisal of his philosophy and its implications. This study aims to contribute to

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