An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748) is David Hume’s clear and influential statement of his empiricist philosophy. Hume argues that all human knowledge comes from experience, dividing perceptions into impressions (vivid sensory experiences) and ideas (fainter mental copies). He challenges the notion of innate ideas and emphasizes the limits of human reason.A central theme is Hume’s critique of causation: we never perceive necessary connections between events, only constant conjunctions, and our belief in cause and effect arises from habit, not rational proof. He also questions induction, showing that we cannot logically justify expecting the future to resemble the past.Hume further examines free will, miracles, and religion, arguing that belief in miracles is irrational given the reliability of natural laws and human testimony. Overall, the work presents a skeptical but pragmatic view of knowledge, urging philosophical humility and reliance on experience rather than metaphysical speculation.