Preparing for Tues 28 Feb

On Tues 28 Feb, we will discuss Section II of Hume's Enquiry. Section II has only nine paragraphs, but it is really worthwhile to study it carefully. As you start reading, please remember the main purpose of Hume's philosophical project, which we discussed last class.

Read

• Section II, Enquiry

Think About

1. What observations lead Hume to state the distinction between impressions and ideas?
2. According to Hume, what is an impression? What is an idea?
3. What observations lead Hume to establishing the relationship between impressions and ideas? How are impressions and ideas related?
4. What arguments does Hume provide to defend the relationship he discovers between impressions and ideas?
5. What does the difference between impressions and ideas have to do with the meaning of terms in metaphysics?