David Hume's First Impression Analysis

Register to read the introduction… In Section II, Of the Origin of Ideas, he states the difference “By the term impression, then, I mean all our more lively perceptions, when we hear, or see, or feel, or love, or hate, or desire, or will. And impressions are distinguished from ideas, which are less lively perceptions, of which we are conscious, when we reflect on any of those sensations or movements above mentioned.” After making this clear distinction, Hume offers a thought experiment as a potential counterexample to his own view that all simple ideas are copies of impressions. Hume’s famous “missing shade of blue” example is introduced to show that it is at least conceivable that the mind can generate an idea without first being exposed to the relevant sensory experience. This is a problem for philosophers because it appears to contradict what Hume had previously written. The “missing shade of blue” thought experiment examines the idea of someone who is well acquainted with a spectrum of colors except a particular shade of blue. …show more content…
Hume’s absence of concern might be explained by the fact that although this exception contradicts the claim that all simple ideas are preceded by simple impressions, this is not a problem because it is not Hume’s primary concern. The ideological solution to the “missing shade of blue” philosophical problem would encompass all of the resolutions aforementioned. This includes recognizing that Hume believed the problem to be a genuine counter example, a proper explanation that harmonizes well with other features of Hume’s epistemology and recognizes that Hume included the counterexample for a purpose. Although I have mentioned an array of solutions to this philosophical problem, standing alone prevents these arguments from being