On the Necessity of the Causal Principle. A Critique of Hume's Analysis of Causation from the Perspective of the Conceivability Principle.

Abstract

In this thesis I will be discussing Hume’s critique of the causal principle. I will explain his strategy in basing the argument on the conceivability principle. I will thoroughly elucidate the principle and provide its epistemic basis. Furthermore, I will discuss some challenges to Hume’s critique from the perspective of some modal theories of imagination. After that, I will demonstrate my argument against Hume’s critique and provide a proof for the necessity of the causal principle. Finally, I will conclude that the necessity of the causal principle is only applicable in general to causes and effects, rather than to specific causes and their respective definite effects. Therefore, I will adopt a causal principle as such: whatever begins to exist must have at least a cause, some cause, without which it won’t be existing.