
Humean view of causation
The Humean view of causation posits that causation is not a direct link between events but rather a pattern of repeated observations. According to philosopher David Hume, we learn about cause and effect through experience; when we consistently see one event followed by another, we come to expect that relationship. However, Hume argued that we cannot directly observe causation itself—only the constant conjunction of events. In scientific explanation, this means that our understanding of cause and effect is based on empirical evidence and established regularities, rather than a definitive connection that can be proved.