Probability in Hume's Science of Man

Abstract

a t i c a l l y thus: t This r e l a t i o n s h i p may be represented diagramI n s t i n c t t o seek F Pass ion/ac t ion d i r e c t e d towards a . I n conf i rmat ion of t h i s model, w e may note Hume's statement t h a t human n a t u r e is compos'd o f two p r i n o i p a l p a r t s , which a r e rsquioCts Cn a l l i t 8 a c t i o n s , t h e a f f e c t i o n s and undars t a n d i n g , t h e former be ing b l i n d wi thout t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e l a t t e r (T493). A l s o t h e model enables us to make good sense of Hume's t a l k of pass ions as founded on suppos i t ions or b e l i e f s , and why, when w e pe rce ive t h e falsehood of such a suppos i t i on , our p a e s i o n s yietd t o our reason w i t h o u t any o p p o s i t 2 o n (T416). Turning now t o t h e e f f e c t o f merely probable b e l i e f on pass ion and a c t i o n , And t h i s is what Hume does s a y a t T153. evidence have, he says, an i n f l u e n c e on t h e parreions and i m a g i n a t i o n , p r o p o r t i o n ' d t o t h a t d e g r e e of forae and v i v aoity, whCoh t h e y communioate t o t h e i d e a s . B u t Hume also holds t h a t p r o b a b i l i t i e s can give rise t o new pass ions , namely t h o pass ions o f hope and fear. Th i s power of probabi l i t y is expla ined as fol lows. Be l i e f t h a t Q is F / w e might expec t t h a t such b e l i e f s , would a f f o c t t h e pass ions i n propor t ion to t h e i r v ivac i ty . I n f e r i o r degrees of

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