David Hume Philosopher : the Association of Ideas
- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
- on Liberty and Necessity
- on Miracles
- on Providence and a Furture State
- on the Academic or Sceptical Philosophy
- on the Reasoning of Animals
- Sceptical Doubts concerning the Operations of Understanding
- Sceptical Solution of these Doubts
- the Association of Ideas
- the Idea of Necessary Connection
- the Origin of Ideas
- An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
- on Benevolence
- on Justice
- on Political Society
- on Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Others
- why utility pleases
- on Qualities Immediately Agreeable to Ourselves
- on Qualities of Usefulness to Ourselves
SECTION III: the Association of Ideas
18-19. There is a connection between different thoughts or ideas of the mind and their appearance in memory or imagination. Even in fleeting thoughts and loose conversation their connections can be observed. This is the case whatever language is used: different ideas are connected. There are three principles of connection among ideas: Resemblance, Contiguity (relationship in time or place) and Cause and effect. These can be illustrated by a picture leading our thoughts to the original (Resemblance), by one room in a building leading us to a discourse concerning the others (Contiguity), and by the looking at a wound leading our thoughts to the pain which followed it (Cause and Effect). On examination, we may become assured that these three form the complete list of connections.
Sceptical Solution of these Doubts << >> the Idea of Necessary Connection