ABSTRACT
Hume places causal inferences, especially those from exceptionless observed conjunctions (or “proofs”) at the center of his account of probability. He offers an associationist psychology of proofs and organizes the field of probable inferences by treating them as variants of proofs differing in the kinds of associations they make. In the course of establishing his associationist psychology, Hume offers arguments that have traditionally been interpreted as committing him to skepticism about causal inference. This article raises difficulties for a skeptical interpretation of Hume’s argument in Treatise 1.3.6, considers the merits of ascribing to Hume a positive epistemology of causal inference, and proceeds to the question of whether such an ascription can be reconciled with Hume’s sympathy for skepticism in Treatise 1.4.7.
