Single Idea 23677

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / a. Constant conjunction]

Full Idea

Every man who understands the language knows that neither priority, nor constant conjunction, nor both taken together, imply efficiency.

Gist of Idea

We all know that mere priority or constant conjunction do not have to imply causation

Source

Thomas Reid (Essays on Active Powers 4: Liberty of Agents [1788], 2)

Book Reference

Reid,Thomas: 'Inquiry and Essays', ed/tr. Beanblossom /K.Lehrer [Hackett 1983], p.334


A Reaction

This invites the question of how we do know causal events, if none of our experiences are enough to prove it. Reid says we have an innate knowledge that all events are caused, but that isn't much help. The presence of power?

Related Idea

Idea 23667 Regular events don't imply a cause, without an innate conviction of universal causation [Reid]