Causes Quote by David Hume
“From causes which appear similar, we expect similar effects. This is the sum total of all our experimental conclusions.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 1748
We infer that alike causes produce alike results, forming the basis of scientific reasoning.
In simple terms: Similar causes lead to similar outcomes.
Observe patterns to predict results.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research design
- policy analysis
- risk assessment
- medical trials
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden factors could break the pattern?
- How reliable are our observations?
Assumes no hidden variables; correlation may not imply causation.