Within “An
Abstract of a Book Lately Published; Entituled, A Treatise of Human Nature” the author seeks to make clarifications
concerning topics presented in David Hume’s aforementioned text. The initial statement
he wishes to examine concerns the source of all our “ideas, or weak perceptions”
(6). Hume wishes to create this
distinction between the different types of perceptions as he believes that
other philosophers have failed to do so. To accomplish this task, a distinction
between ideas and impressions is necessary. Hume claims that all ideas
originate from our impressions; or feelings of emotion and passion or the
interpretation of external objects through the senses (5). Therefore, these
impressions which are based upon feelings are strong perceptions that form the
building block of thought and experience. In comparison, ideas are merely
copies of these impressions as a result of thinking. Ideas are then the weaker
of the two concepts presented. He continues to say that these impressions
inevitably precede all ideas within the mind as they are the stronger of the
two concepts (7). For example, the idea of a book derives from our initial
impression of the object. Therefore the idea of the book cannot exist without
this first impression as it is simply a copy.
The
author continues to delve into Hume’s definition of impressions more thoroughly
throughout the text. For example, he states that on the occasion an idea is
called to mind but is shrouded in ambiguity; the impression may provide a “clear
and precise” (6) explanation. So, if all ideas are based upon impression and
those that are even culled from the imagination originate from the source; then
all ideas are reducible to things we have perceived through direct experience
(6). Even if the mind has conjured an image that appears abstract and difficult
to understand, we may ultimately return to the impression for understanding. As
the author of the abstract summarizes, “All our ideas…are derived from our
impressions, and we can never think of anything we have not seen...” (5). These
definitions further exemplify that impressions provide greater clarity and
ideas can only be weaker copies of these impressions.
The
author clarifies Hume’s reasoning for introducing this differentiation and
applies the concepts of impressions and ideas to philosophical terms. He states
that when an idea is not attached to the term, then it begs the question of
what impression the idea is based off of. If these connections cannot be made,
the philosophical term is then deemed “insignificant” (6). Through this passage
it is apparent that Hume believes that in order for philosophical words to
carry weight, they must initially arise from these ideas or copies of
impressions. This is integral since it seems that Hume would dismiss any
philosophical debate that is not grounded in this concept.
“All our ideas…are derived from impressions, and we can never think of anything that we have not seen…” I must say I wholly agree with this assertion made by the author who wrote “An Abstract of a Book Lately Published; Entitled, A Treatise of Human Nature.” The senses are what allows humans to be consciously aware of his/her existence. Without them, we couldn’t communicate with other humans, or utilize the environment to survive and thrive. Also, it is the senses that conveys meaning to everything in nature. If we can’t perceive, feel, taste, hear, or smell, all external objects would be meaningless to us. Like the author, I would imagine it arduous and impractical to formulate an idea before a prior impression.
ReplyDeleteI am posting this comment late and it is somewhat off topic, but I just want to share something with the class. I am currently taking an American Lit class, reading "Sheppard Lee Written by Himself" by Robert Montgomery Bird. Apparently, the author (Bird) was very interested in philosophy, particularly Hume. The main character (Lee) is a man who finds himself dead and his spirit is able to inhabit different bodies of people of various types, social classes, etc. and experience life through their bodies. It raises a lot of questions about the nature of consciousness especially in terms of mind vs. body and experience. It was an interesting coincidence for me, reading Hume's essay at the same time as starting "Sheppard Lee" and it has given me a lot to think about. For anyone whose interested in Hume, and who likes literature, I highly recommend reading "Sheppard Lee."
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the best way to describe impressions are our senses and emotions working to create a consciousness of our existence. Without these basic human functions we wouldn't exist since we wouldn't be able to survive without them. Our senses define and create an impression that can allow us to describe objects through sight, smell, feel, taste etc. Therefore, it can not be possible to have ideas or representations before an impression(5).
ReplyDeleteAccording to Hume, ideas are weaker and secondary to impressions. However, I wonder, isn't it true in some cases that there are only ideas and no impressions? For instance, with death - most people fear it, yet I don't think you could argue that this fear isn't an idea. Nor could one argue that fear of death is an impression based on some kind of prior experience of actual death. Then again, some of us have seen others die, or at least had someone we cared about die. So this could be enough of an experience.
ReplyDeleteHume believes the observance of cause and effect is merely an inference. Hume perceives the world through impressions and ideas. Impressions are the forceful and violent ways in which the human senses are activated by one’s surroundings. Ideas are faint copies of impressions. Hume writes “impressions always take precedence [over ideas], and that every idea with which the imagination is furnish’d first makes its appearance in a correspondent impression.” (7) Hume cannot offer empirical proof for the basic of principles of cause and effect. His metaphysical view consists solely of ideas with no underlying substance of their own.
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