David Hume's Copy Principle

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the question of whether or not the copy principle is defensible, whether or not it is correct. It looks at how Hume claimed that "we may divide all the perceptions of the mind into two classes or species" which he named "thoughts or ideas," and "impressions". The paper argues that the copy principle is a legitimate theory and one that holds major ramifications for the way we view the world. While it is unfortunate that its non-mathematical nature and our limited knowledge of the human brain prevent us from being able to provide a comprehensive proof of the principle, it is still possible to show that the theory does fit with what we already know and credibility can be gained by defending it against objections.

From the Paper:

"Another major objection to the copy principle is that many believe it cannot account for the human conception of causation. The idea behind this objection is that there is no way to experience causation. Therefore, our ability to have any notion of cause and effect should serve as a clear contradiction towards the copy principle. My response to this objection is that the idea of causation needs to be modified. Humans don't just create ideas of causation out of thin air, it is an idea that we acquire through custom. As Hume points out, even a young child can figure out that flames are hot and will cause pain if you are too close to them. Therefore, it is clear that the amount of reasoning power required to make a causal connection between two events is not very high. In fact, it is not a matter of reasoning power at all, it is a matter of custom. The more times two events occur with some sort of connection between them, perhaps temporal, physical, or other, the more the idea of causation strengthens in our minds. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Giaquinto, Marcus. Philosophy of Science. Vol. 4, No. 54. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (December1987)
• Hume, David; Edited by Steinberg, Eric. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. 2nd edition.Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. (1993)
• Purves, Dale; Augustine, George; Fitzpatrick, David; Hall, William; LaMantia, Anthony-Samuel; McNamara, James; White, Leonard. Neuroscience: Fourth Edition. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc. (2008)
• Stove, David Charles. The Rationality of Induction. Oxford: Clarendon Press (1986)

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