According to Hume, despite appearances, everyone really does agree about the problem of liberty and necessity. In this essay I shall discuss the basis of Hume's argument, which I posit rests upon his views on necessary connection. That is, our notion of necessary connection comes about through the observation of constant conjunction of objects and events, from which we infer causal relationships. Furthermore, Hume applies his view of necessity to human nature and behaviour, and asserts that, despite what they may say, all people carry out their lives in a manner which indicates a convergent belief in necessity, both in unintelligent objects and humans. Finally, I shall evaluate Hume's compatibilist position, as presented in the Enquiry, **********
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Everything becomes forever new and completely dissimilar to anything else we have experienced. Indeed, if it were the case that there was no necessity in nature, “inferencing and reasoning concerning the operations of nature, would, from that moment, be at an end” (Hume 193: 54). However, the idea of necessity arises from the fact that we do find uniformity in nature, which results in the conjunction of similar objects that in turn results in the mind making inferences upon encountering like objects and situations. And it is this uniformity that all people anchor their choices, plans, and action upon. For instance, the farmer plants certain vegetables in particular seasons for a successful harvest, and counts on said ideal season appearing at a certain point in the year. He gives the plants water and nutrients, because, in his experience, such action has not produced negative results. Thus, it is clear that all practical life hinges on the idea of necessity of nature and the inferences that such a position allows us to make. Anyone, such as the farmer, who would argue against such a view in words, will be found to contradict his position in deed. Above all, it is these two factors, conjunction and inference that, for Hume, the notion of necessity comprises (Hume 1993:
Everything becomes forever new and completely dissimilar to anything else we have experienced. Indeed, if it were the case that there was no necessity in nature, “inferencing and reasoning concerning the operations of nature, would, from that moment, be at an end” (Hume 193: 54). However, the idea of necessity arises from the fact that we do find uniformity in nature, which results in the conjunction of similar objects that in turn results in the mind making inferences upon encountering like objects and situations. And it is this uniformity that all people anchor their choices, plans, and action upon. For instance, the farmer plants certain vegetables in particular seasons for a successful harvest, and counts on said ideal season appearing at a certain point in the year. He gives the plants water and nutrients, because, in his experience, such action has not produced negative results. Thus, it is clear that all practical life hinges on the idea of necessity of nature and the inferences that such a position allows us to make. Anyone, such as the farmer, who would argue against such a view in words, will be found to contradict his position in deed. Above all, it is these two factors, conjunction and inference that, for Hume, the notion of necessity comprises (Hume 1993: