休谟因果观探析

An Analysis of Hume's Causality Viewpoint

一般认为,休谟既然把因果观念看成是人心习惯联想的产物,那么他也就否定了客观的因果关系的存在。事实上,休谟通过对因果性问题的考察,意在寻找因果观念产生的基础,以及人心产生因果观念的心理学机制。他既没有否定客观的因果关系的存在,也未否认因果推论在实践中的作用。休谟其实是要对本体问题进行“悬置”,排斥形而上学,认为它非人类的认识能力所为。休谟意在认识论层次上探讨哲学问题。对休谟的误解一般来自对本体论和认识论两个层次的混淆。

It is commonly considered that since D. Hume takes causal notion as the product of mind association, he has negated the objective causality. As a matter of fact, he intends to seek for the foundation as well as the psychological mechanism of producing causality basis. He has negated neither the objective causality nor the role played by causal inference in practice. In fact, Hume ＂suspends＂ the subject and rejects metaphysics, suggesting that it is not the cognitive ability of human being. Hume has discussed philosophy from the cognitive perspective. The misunderstanding about Hume results from the people＇s confusion of subject and cognition outlooks.