David Hume's Theory Of Contiguity

Hume harshly critiques the idea of cause, by denying its existence. As an empiricist and a skeptic, Hume asserts that the existence of cause cannot be affirmed, because we cannot examine it. Consequently, Hume is skeptical towards the rationalistic methods of science, as well as the concept of identity. He begins his argument against causation by attempting to examine both cause and effect. Intuitively he concludes that there is no universal quality of the two, since they are not material, but conceptual. Further examination shows that what characterizes cause and effect are contiguity and succession. Contiguity relates to them due the constant change objects undergo yet the objects always remain themselves. Succession relates because a cause

At first glance, it might be assumed that cause has been sufficiently described. However, Hume cannot assert that anything of substance has really said of cause “Shou’d any one leave this instance, and pretend to define a cause, by saying it is something productive of another, ‘tis evident he wou’d say nothing. For what does he mean by production? Can he give any definition of it that will not be the same with that of causation? If he can; I desire it may be produc’d. If he cannot; he here runs in a circle, and gives a synonymous term instead of a definition.”(Book 1 Part 3 Section 2). Essentially, cause cannot be examined because it is not a physical thing, therefore we cannot know it through its qualities. Cause can be known through its relation to other objects (i.e. contiguity and succession. Though it can be known this way, in reality nothing has been said about cause other than that it refers to change in a subject. If this is true cause can’t be said to exist. At the most, man’s concept of cause as an actual thing that brings about changes in an object, is a plausible explanation of how things change. Nonetheless, Hume considers a chaotic and unpredictable world to also be a plausible explanation. Due to this, Hume considers cause to be nothing more than a