休谟因果推理中的“信念”概念研究

David Hume’s Concept of “Belief”

休谟清楚地界定了信念的含义,即一种与当前印象相联系或结合的生动观念。本文从观念论出发,研究休谟因果推理中信念概念提出的必然性。关于信念的来源,休谟认为它源自于印象,特别是那些反复出现的印象,它们构成了信念形成的基础,而习惯性联想是因果推理中信念的最终根源。在心理认知能力方面,是“想象力”促成了信念的构建。休谟将这种“想象力”视为一种基于习惯的联想机制,因此他特别强调“习惯”是信念形成的核心源泉。休谟还探讨了信念的功能,他认为信念的作用在于增强我们的观念,让它们变得更为强烈和生动。这种强化在我们进行因果推理时尤为重要,它允许我们从原因的“印象”出发,通过信念的力量,感知到因果关系的实在性,并由此推断出结果的“观念”。Hume clearly defined the meaning of belief as a vivid idea associated or connected with a present impression. This article starts from the perspective of idealism to investigate the inevitability of the concept of belief in Hume’s causal reasoning. Regarding the origin of belief, Hume believes that it originates from impressions, especially those that recur repeatedly, forming the foundation for the formation of belief, and habitual association is the ultimate source of belief in causal reasoning. In terms of psychological cognitive abilities, the “imagination” facilitates the construction of belief. Hume regarded this “imagination” as an associative mechanism based on habit, thus emphasizing that “habit” is the core source of belief formation. Hume also explored the function of belief, asserting that the role of belief is to enhance our ideas, making them more intense and vivid. This enhancement is particularly important when we engage in causal reasoning, as it allows us to perceive the reality of causal relationships through the power of belief, starting from the “impression” of the cause and thereby inferring the “idea” of the effect.