David Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

SECTION II: OF THE ORIGIN OF IDEAS

1 EVERY one will readil allow! "#a" "#ere i$ a %on$idera&le di''eren%e &e"ween "#e
()*+,er%e,"ion$ o' "#e mind! w#en a man 'eel$ "#e ,ain o' e-%e$$ive #ea"! or "#e
,lea$ure o' modera"e warm"#! and w#en #e a'"erward$ re%all$ "o #i$ memor "#i$
$en$a"ion! or an"i%i,a"e$ i" & #i$ ima.ina"ion/ T#e$e 'a%ul"ie$ ma mimi% or %o, "#e
,er%e,"ion$ o' "#e $en$e$0 &u" "#e never %an en"irel rea%# "#e 'or%e and viva%i" o' "#e
ori.inal $en"imen"/ T#e u"mo$" we $a o' "#em! even w#en "#e o,era"e wi"# .rea"e$"
vi.our! i$! "#a" "#e re,re$en" "#eir o&1e%" in $o livel a manner! "#a" we %ould almo$" $a
we 'eel or $ee i": 2u"! e-%e," "#e mind &e di$ordered & di$ea$e or madne$$! "#e never
%an arrive a" $u%# a ,i"%# o' viva%i"! a$ "o render "#e$e ,er%e,"ion$ al"o.e"#er
undi$"in.ui$#a&le/ All "#e %olour$ o' ,oe"r! #owever $,lendid! %an never ,ain" na"ural
o&1e%"$ in $u%# a manner a$ "o ma3e "#e de$%ri,"ion &e "a3en 'or a real land$3i,/ T#e
mo$" livel "#ou.#" i$ $"ill in'erior "o "#e dulle$" $en$a"ion/
* 4e ma o&$erve a li3e di$"in%"ion "o run "#rou.# all "#e o"#er ()5+,er%e,"ion$ o'
"#e mind/ ()6+A man in a 'i" o' an.er! i$ a%"ua"ed in a ver di''eren" manner 'rom one
w#o onl "#in3$ o' "#a" emo"ion/ I' ou "ell me! "#a" an ,er$on i$ in love! I ea$il
under$"and our meanin.! and 'rom a 1u$" %on%e,"ion o' #i$ $i"ua"ion0 &u" never %an
mi$"a3e "#a" %on%e,"ion 'or "#e real di$order$ and a.i"a"ion$ o' "#e ,a$$ion/ 4#en we
re'le%" on our ,a$" $en"imen"$ and a''e%"ion$! our "#ou.#" i$ a 'ai"#'ul mirror! and %o,ie$
i"$ o&1e%"$ "rul0 &u" "#e %olour$ w#i%# i" em,lo$ are 'ain" and dull! in %om,ari$on o'
"#o$e in w#i%# our ori.inal ,er%e,"ion$ were %lo"#ed/ I" re7uire$ no ni%e di$%ernmen" or
me"a,#$i%al #ead "o mar3 "#e di$"in%"ion &e"ween "#em/
5 Here "#ere'ore ()8+we ma divide all "#e ,er%e,"ion$ o' "#e mind in"o "wo
%la$$e$ or $,e%ie$! w#i%# are di$"in.ui$#ed & "#eir di''eren" de.ree$ o' 'or%e and
viva%i"/ T#e le$$ 'or%i&le and livel are %ommonl denomina"ed T#ou.#"$ or Idea$/ T#e
o"#er $,e%ie$ wan" a name in our lan.ua.e! and in mo$" o"#er$0 I $u,,o$e! &e%au$e i" wa$
no" re7ui$i"e 'or an! &u" ,#ilo$o,#i%al ,ur,o$e$! "o ran3 "#em under a .eneral "erm or
a,,ella"ion/ 9e" u$! "#ere'ore! u$e a li""le 'reedom! and %all "#em Im,re$$ion$0
em,loin. "#a" word in a $en$e $omew#a" di''eren" 'rom "#e u$ual/ ():+2 "#e "erm
im,re$$ion! "#en! I mean all our more livel ,er%e,"ion$! w#en we #ear! or $ee! or 'eel!
or love! or #a"e! or de$ire! or will/ And im,re$$ion$ are di$"in.ui$#ed 'rom idea$! w#i%#
are "#e le$$ livel ,er%e,"ion$! ();+o' w#i%# we are %on$%iou$! w#en we re'le%" on an
o' "#o$e $en$a"ion$ or movemen"$ a&ove men"ioned/
; No"#in.! a" 'ir$" view! ma $eem more un&ounded "#an "#e "#ou.#" o' man! w#i%#
no" onl e$%a,e$ all #uman ,ower and au"#ori"! &u" i$ no" even re$"rained wi"#in "#e
limi"$ o' na"ure and reali"/ To 'orm mon$"er$! and 1oin in%on.ruou$ $#a,e$ and
a,,earan%e$! %o$"$ "#e ima.ina"ion no more "rou&le "#an "o %on%eive "#e mo$" na"ural
and 'amiliar o&1e%"$/ And w#ile "#e &od i$ %on'ined "o one ,lane"! alon. w#i%# i" %ree,$
wi"# ,ain and di''i%ul"0 "#e "#ou.#" %an in an in$"an" "ran$,or" u$ in"o "#e mo$" di$"an"
re.ion$ o' "#e univer$e0 or even &eond "#e univer$e! in"o "#e un&ounded %#ao$! w#ere
na"ure i$ $u,,o$ed "o lie in "o"al %on'u$ion/ 4#a" never wa$ $een! or #eard o'! ma e"
&e %on%eived0 nor i$ an "#in. &eond "#e ,ower o' "#ou.#"! e-%e," w#a" im,lie$ an
a&$olu"e %on"radi%"ion/
: 2u" "#ou.# our "#ou.#" $eem$ "o ,o$$e$$ "#i$ un&ounded li&er"! we $#all 'ind!
u,on a nearer e-amina"ion! "#a" i" i$ reall %on'ined wi"#in ver narrow limi"$! and "#a"
all "#i$ %rea"ive ,ower o' "#e mind amoun"$ "o no more "#an "#e 'a%ul" o'
()11+%om,oundin.! "ran$,o$in.! au.men"in.! or dimini$#in. "#e ma"erial$ a''orded u$
& "#e $en$e$ and e-,erien%e/ ()<+4#en we "#in3 o' ()18+a .olden moun"ain! we
onl 1oin "wo %on$i$"en" idea$! .old! and moun"ain! wi"# w#i%# we were 'ormerl
a%7uain"ed/ A vir"uou$ #or$e we %an %on%eive0 &e%au$e! 'rom our own 'eelin.! we %an
%on%eive vir"ue0 and "#i$ we ma uni"e "o "#e 'i.ure and $#a,e o' a #or$e! w#i%# i$ an
animal 'amiliar "o u$/ In $#or"! ()1+all "#e ma"erial$ o' "#in3in. are derived ei"#er 'rom
our ou"ward or inward $en"imen": "#e mi-"ure and %om,o$i"ion o' "#e$e &elon.$ alone "o
"#e mind and will/ Or! "o e-,re$$ m$el' in ,#ilo$o,#i%al lan.ua.e! all our idea$ or more
'ee&le ,er%e,"ion$ are %o,ie$ o' our im,re$$ion$ or more livel one$/
8 ()1<+To ,rove "#i$! "#e "wo 'ollowin. ar.umen"$ will! I #o,e! &e $u''i%ien"/ Fir$"!
()1*+()15+w#en we anal=e our "#ou.#"$ or idea$! #owever %om,ounded or
$u&lime! we alwa$ 'ind "#a" "#e re$olve "#em$elve$ in"o $u%# ()>+$im,le idea$ a$
were %o,ied 'rom a ,re%eden" 'eelin. or $en"imen"/ Even "#o$e idea$! w#i%#! a" 'ir$"
view! $eem "#e mo$" wide o' "#i$ ori.in! are 'ound! u,on a nearer $%ru"in! "o &e derived
'rom i"/ ()1:+T#e idea o' God! a$ meanin. an in'ini"el in"elli.en"! wi$e! and .ood
2ein.! ari$e$ 'rom re'le%"in. on "#e o,era"ion$ o' our own mind! and au.men"in.!
wi"#ou" limi"! "#o$e 7uali"ie$ o' .oodne$$ and wi$dom/ ()1;+4e ma ,ro$e%u"e "#i$
en7uir "o w#a" len."# we ,lea$e0 w#ere we $#all alwa$ 'ind! "#a" ever idea w#i%# we
e-amine i$ %o,ied 'rom a $imilar im,re$$ion/ ()1>+T#o$e w#o would a$$er" "#a" "#i$
,o$i"ion i$ no" univer$all "rue nor wi"#ou" e-%e,"ion! #ave onl one! and "#a" an ea$
me"#od o' re'u"in. i"0 & ,rodu%in. "#a" idea! w#i%#! in "#eir o,inion! i$ no" derived
'rom "#i$ $our%e/ I" will "#en &e in%um&en" on u$! i' we would main"ain our do%"rine! "o
,rodu%e "#e im,re$$ion! or livel ,er%e,"ion! w#i%# %orre$,ond$ "o i"/
< ()16+Se%ondl/ ()*?+I' i" #a,,en! 'rom a de'e%" o' "#e or.an! "#a" a man i$ no"
$u$%e,"i&le o' an $,e%ie$ o' $en$a"ion! we alwa$ 'ind "#a" #e i$ a$ li""le $u$%e,"i&le o'
"#e %orre$,onden" idea$/ A &lind man %an 'orm no no"ion o' %olour$0 a dea' man o'
$ound$/ ()*1+Re$"ore ei"#er o' "#em "#a" $en$e in w#i%# #e i$ de'i%ien"0 & o,enin.
"#i$ new inle" 'or #i$ $en$a"ion$! ou al$o o,en an inle" 'or "#e idea$0 and #e 'ind$ no
di''i%ul" in %on%eivin. "#e$e o&1e%"$/ ()**+T#e %a$e i$ "#e $ame! i' "#e o&1e%"! ,ro,er
'or e-%i"in. an $en$a"ion! #a$ never &een a,,lied "o "#e or.an/ ()*;+A 9a,lander or
Ne.ro #a$ no no"ion o' "#e reli$# o' wine/ And ()*5+"#ou.# "#ere are 'ew or no
in$"an%e$ o' a li3e de'i%ien% in "#e mind! w#ere a ,er$on #a$ never 'el" or i$ w#oll
in%a,a&le o' a $en"imen" or ,a$$ion "#a" &elon.$ "o #i$ $,e%ie$0 e" we 'ind "#e $ame
o&$erva"ion "o "a3e ,la%e in a le$$ de.ree/ A man o' mild manner$ %an 'orm no idea o'
inve"era"e reven.e or %ruel"0 nor %an a $el'i$# #ear" ea$il %on%eive "#e #ei.#"$ o'
'riend$#i, and .enero$i"/ I" i$ readil allowed! "#a" o"#er &ein.$ ma ,o$$e$$ man
$en$e$ o' w#i%# we %an #ave no %on%e,"ion0 &e%au$e "#e idea$ o' "#em #ave never &een
in"rodu%ed "o u$ in "#e onl manner & w#i%# an idea %an #ave a%%e$$ "o "#e mind! "o
wi"! & "#e a%"ual 'eelin. and $en$a"ion/
> ()*:+T#ere i$! #owever! one %on"radi%"or ,#enomenon! w#i%# ma ,rove "#a"
()*>+i" i$ no" a&$olu"el im,o$$i&le 'or idea$ "o ari$e! inde,enden" o' "#eir
%orre$,onden" im,re$$ion$/ ()*8+I &elieve i" will readil &e allowed! "#a" "#e $everal
di$"in%" idea$ o' %olour! w#i%# en"er & "#e ee! or "#o$e o' $ound! w#i%# are %onveed
& "#e ear! are reall di''eren" 'rom ea%# o"#er0 "#ou.#! a" "#e $ame "ime! re$em&lin./
()5*+Now i' "#i$ &e "rue o' di''eren" %olour$! i" mu$" &e no le$$ $o o' "#e di''eren"
$#ade$ o' "#e $ame %olour0 and ea%# $#ade ,rodu%e$ a di$"in%" idea! inde,enden" o' "#e
re$"/ ()55+For i' "#i$ $#ould &e denied! ()*<+i" i$ ,o$$i&le! & "#e %on"inual
.rada"ion o' $#ade$! "o run a %olour in$en$i&l in"o w#a" i$ mo$" remo"e 'rom i"0 and i'
ou will no" allow an o' "#e mean$ "o &e di''eren"! ou %anno"! wi"#ou" a&$urdi"! den
"#e e-"reme$ "o &e "#e $ame/ ()*6+Su,,o$e! "#ere'ore! a ,er$on "o #ave en1oed #i$
$i.#" 'or "#ir" ear$! and "o #ave &e%ome ,er'e%"l a%7uain"ed wi"# %olour$ o' all 3ind$
e-%e," one ,ar"i%ular $#ade o' &lue! 'or in$"an%e! w#i%# i" never #a$ &een #i$ 'or"une "o
mee" wi"#/ 9e" all "#e di''eren" $#ade$ o' "#a" %olour! e-%e," "#a" $in.le one! &e ,la%ed
&e'ore #im! de$%endin. .raduall 'rom "#e dee,e$" "o "#e li.#"e$"0 i" i$ ,lain "#a" #e will
,er%eive a &lan3! w#ere "#a" $#ade i$ wan"in.! and will &e $en$i&le "#a" "#ere i$ a .rea"er
di$"an%e in "#a" ,la%e &e"ween "#e %on"i.uou$ %olour "#an in an o"#er/ ()5?+Now I
a$3! w#e"#er i" &e ,o$$i&le 'or #im! 'rom #i$ own ima.ina"ion! "o $u,,l "#i$ de'i%ien%!
and rai$e u, "o #im$el' "#e idea o' "#a" ,ar"i%ular $#ade! "#ou.# i" #ad never &een
%onveed "o #im & #i$ $en$e$@ I &elieve "#ere are 'ew &u" will &e o' o,inion "#a" #e
%an: and "#i$ ma $erve a$ a ,roo' "#a" "#e ()51+$im,le idea$ are no" alwa$! in ever
in$"an%e! derived 'rom "#e %orre$,onden" im,re$$ion$0 "#ou.# ()5;+"#i$ in$"an%e i$ $o
$in.ular! "#a" i" i$ $%ar%el wor"# our o&$ervin.! and doe$ no" meri" "#a" 'or i" alone we
$#ould al"er our .eneral ma-im()5;+/
6 ()5:+Here! "#ere'ore! i$ a ,ro,o$i"ion! w#i%# no" onl $eem$! in i"$el'! $im,le
and in"elli.i&le0 &u"! i' a ,ro,er u$e were made o' i"! mi.#" render ever di$,u"e e7uall
in"elli.i&le! and &ani$# all "#a" 1ar.on! w#i%# #a$ $o lon. "a3en ,o$$e$$ion o'
me"a,#$i%al rea$onin.$! and drawn di$.ra%e u,on "#em/ All idea$! e$,e%iall a&$"ra%"
one$! are na"urall 'ain" and o&$%ure: "#e mind #a$ &u" a $lender #old o' "#em: "#e are
a," "o &e %on'ounded wi"# o"#er re$em&lin. idea$0 and w#en we #ave o'"en em,loed
an "erm! "#ou.# wi"#ou" a di$"in%" meanin.! we are a," "o ima.ine i" #a$ a de"ermina"e
idea anne-ed "o i"/ On "#e %on"rar! all im,re$$ion$! "#a" i$! all $en$a"ion$! ei"#er ou"ward
or inward! are $"ron. and vivid: "#e limi"$ &e"ween "#em are more e-a%"l de"ermined:
nor i$ i" ea$ "o 'all in"o an error or mi$"a3e wi"# re.ard "o "#em/ 4#en we en"er"ain!
"#ere'ore! an $u$,i%ion "#a" a ,#ilo$o,#i%al "erm i$ em,loed wi"#ou" an meanin. or
idea Aa$ i$ &u" "oo 're7uen"B! we need &u" en7uire! 'rom w#a" im,re$$ion i$ "#a"
$u,,o$ed idea derived@ And i' i" &e im,o$$i&le "o a$$i.n an! "#i$ will $erve "o %on'irm
our $u$,i%ion/ 2 &rin.in. idea$ in"o $o %lear a li.#" we ma rea$ona&l #o,e "o remove
all di$,u"e! w#i%# ma ari$e! %on%ernin. "#eir na"ure and reali"/C'oo"no"e 1D
Foo"no"e$:
C1D ()1?+I" i$ ,ro&a&le "#a" no more wa$ mean" & "#e$e! w#o denied inna"e idea$! "#an "#a" all idea$
were %o,ie$ o' our im,re$$ion$0 "#ou.# i" mu$" &e %on'e$$ed! "#a" "#e "erm$! w#i%# "#e em,loed! were
no" %#o$en wi"# $u%# %au"ion! nor $o e-a%"l de'ined! a$ "o ,reven" all mi$"a3e$ a&ou" "#eir do%"rine/ For
w#a" i$ mean" & inna"e@ I' inna"e &e e7uivalen" "o na"ural! "#en all "#e ,er%e,"ion$ and idea$ o' "#e mind
mu$" &e allowed "o &e inna"e or na"ural! in w#a"ever $en$e we "a3e "#e la""er word! w#e"#er in o,,o$i"ion
"o w#a" i$ un%ommon! ar"i'i%ial! or mira%ulou$/ I' & inna"e &e mean"! %on"em,orar "o our &ir"#! "#e
di$,u"e $eem$ "o &e 'rivolou$0 nor i$ i" wor"# w#ile "o en7uire a" w#a" "ime "#in3in. &e.in$! w#e"#er
&e'ore! a"! or a'"er our &ir"#/ A.ain! "#e word idea! $eem$ "o &e %ommonl "a3en in a ver loo$e $en$e! &
9OCEE and o"#er$0 a$ $"andin. 'or an o' our ,er%e,"ion$! our $en$a"ion$ and ,a$$ion$! a$ well a$
"#ou.#"$/ Now in "#i$ $en$e! I $#ould de$ire "o 3now! w#a" %an &e mean" & a$$er"in.! "#a" $el'Flove! or
re$en"men" o' in1urie$! or "#e ,a$$ion &e"ween "#e $e-e$ i$ no" inna"e@ 2u" admi""in. "#e$e "erm$!
im,re$$ion$ and idea$! in "#e $en$e a&ove e-,lained! and under$"andin. & inna"e! w#a" i$ ori.inal or
%o,ied 'rom no ,re%eden" ,er%e,"ion! "#en ma we a$$er" "#a" all our im,re$$ion$ are inna"e! and our idea$
no" inna"e/ To &e in.enuou$! I mu$" own i" "o &e m o,inion! "#a" 9OCEE wa$ &e"raed in"o "#i$ 7ue$"ion
& "#e $%#oolmen! w#o! ma3in. u$e o' unde'ined "erm$! draw ou" "#eir di$,u"e$ "o a "ediou$ len."#!
wi"#ou" ever "ou%#in. "#e ,oin" in 7ue$"ion/ A li3e am&i.ui" and %ir%umlo%u"ion $eem "o run "#rou.# "#a"
,#ilo$o,#erG$ rea$onin.$ on "#i$ a$ well a$ mo$" o"#er $u&1e%"$/