A Treatise of Human Nature · Chapter
Section VI: Of the Idea of Existence, and of External Existence explained
Hume examines the ideas of existence and external existence, arguing that the idea of existence is not derived from a distinct impression but is identical with the idea of the object itself.
What happens
Hume examines the ideas of existence and external existence, arguing that the idea of existence is not derived from a distinct impression but is identical with the idea of the object itself. He extends this reasoning to external existence, concluding that we cannot conceive of anything specifically different from our perceptions, and that our notion of external objects is merely a relative idea.
Themes in this chapter
Empiricism and the Primacy of Impressions
Hume applies the principle that every idea arises from a similar impression to the ideas of existence and external existence, concluding that existence is not a distinct impression but identical with the perception.
Skepticism About the External World
Hume argues that we cannot conceive of external objects as specifically different from our perceptions, and that our idea of them is only relative, undermining the common notion of an independent external world.
Characters to notice
- David Hume
Author and philosopher, presenting his arguments on existence and external existence.
Key passages
“There is no impression nor idea of any kind, of which we have any consciousness or memory, that is not conceived as existent; and it is evident, that from this consciousness the most perfect idea and assurance of being is derived.”
Every perception we are aware of is automatically considered to exist, and this gives us our most certain notion of being.
Hume establishes that existence is a universal attribute of all perceptions.
“The idea of existence, then, is the very same with the idea of what we conceive to be existent. To reflect on anything simply, and to reflect on it as existent, are nothing different from each other.”
Thinking of something and thinking of it as existing are the same mental act; existence adds nothing to the idea.
Hume concludes that existence is not a separate idea but identical with the object of thought.
“Now since nothing is ever present to the mind but perceptions, and since all ideas are derived from something antecedently present to the mind; it follows, that it is impossible for us so much as to conceive or form an idea of anything specifically different from ideas and impressions.”
Because the mind only has access to perceptions, and all ideas come from prior perceptions, we cannot form any idea of something that is fundamentally different from perceptions.
Hume argues for the limits of our conception, leading to skepticism about external existence.