"It seems evident that animals as well as men learn many things from experience, and infer, that the same events will always follow from the same causes. By this principle they become acquainted with the more obvious properties of external objects, and gradually, from their birth, treasure up a knowledge of the nature of fire, water, earth, stones, heights, depths etc. and of the effects which result from their operation"
Hume says that humans and animals both learn about their surroundings from expierencing them. I believe this is very true because we learn that fire is naturally hot, when we first see or try to touch it. The same thing can be said for water, we know it feels wet, but there had to be a time when we were real young we didn't know what it felt like at all.
3 comments:
this relates to the whole idea of cause and effect. in order to reason we have to have prior experiences in order for the mind to perceive it. there has to be a point in life where you came across fire and you experienced the heat and burning pain from touching it or coming face to face.
If Hume is saying that like animals, humans are born with instincts which are innate qualities than shouldn't we know what fire and water are from birth? Im kind of responding to the above blog as well as this one. Although through cause and effect we attain knowledge of something new maybe in fact we are reminding ourselves about something we already know.
Hume is relating that with cause and effect and yes humans and animals both learn about their surroundings and experience them. The only difference is that sometimes humans are not aware of their surroundings and make mistakes but the animals are always aware of danger.
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