Hume and Descartes' Concept of Self

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces the notion of 'self' as presented by David Hume (1711-76) and contrasts it with the model by Descartes (1596-1650). In order to understand Humes' theory of self, his theory of knowledge is explored as well. Descartes's view on the duality of mind and body is then examined. The topic of identity is then explored with Hume's and Descartes' views evaluated within this discussion.

From the Paper:

"To understand Hume's conception of self, a little delving into his concept of theory of knowledge will be necessary. Hume concluded from his reasoning that no theory of reality is possible. In "Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding" he classifies, after Locke, the objects of awareness into "ideas" and "impressions." Ideas are derived from impressions. Impressions are derived form sense perceptions, or from internal consciousness. A word that does not directly stand for an impression has meaning only if it brings before the mind an object that can be gathered from an impression through sense perception or internal consciousness, and thus he dismisses the existence of content beyond the realm of experience.
All objects of awareness are either relations of ideas or matters of fact. Logical relations can be detected between ideas by rationality. Matters of facts cannot be demonstrated, except at the level of mathematics. If a rose is red, it is just a matter of fact; there is no logic within it. It could well have been blue or green. Hume then discusses the following questions regarding causal inference: from what impressions is it derived and what is its nature."

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