PHIL 221 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Penicillin, Empiricism, Consistency
Document Summary
David hume: empiricist: human knowledge is founded on experience. What we know mostly comes from the senses. Induction: how we know from the senses. A big part of knowledge comes from what we assume from previous knowledge. We don"t know that for sure since we can observe the physical aspects of it but nothing of the appearance of bread makes it logically necessary that it will nourish us. The nourishment of bread is like a secret power. We can observe cause and effect and apply it to other elements in life but there is not necessary constant connection between the two. This way of thought applies to science and all of its theories and proofs. Relations of ideas: 5+7=12; the sum of internal angles of a triangle is 180 degrees. Matter of fact: this swan is white; this bread nourished me. Matter of fact can be singular and also be generalisation for certain element such as all bread nourishes.
