David Hume on Necessary Connexion

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In conclusion, the problem with Hume’s argument is that he fails to address the logical reasons that humans assign a necessary connection to an object. Any “necessary connexion” formed within the mind of a human is not formed solely because of repetition, but with human reasoning of why the event repeats in the first place. In fact, as repetition continues, necessary connection is formed not from the repetition itself, but with humans assigning reasons to the repetition. The more accurate the analysis of a repetitive event, the more definition is given to our world. Causation is derived from pattern and repetition, and the words “necessary connection” and “reasonable pattern” can basically be interchanged. Repetition itself is a label for something greater at work. Repetition is not something that just randomly occurs. Repetition occurs for a reason, what is that reason? Humans call that reason truth, the more something can be repeated, the more truth it holds. In Hume’s analysis of necessary connection, repetition is the main avenue through which necessary connection is formed, yet repetition only exists because of reason. Repetition shows a sense of consistency in our unorganized world. Even though repetition and recurring events may happen often, in a world of chaos and uncertainty, consistent repetition might be a diamond in the rough. This may be the reason it is powerful enough to assign meaning to objects and define our realities, including cause and effect. This larger phenomenon that we call necessary connection is in fact repetition and this repetition we so heavily study has already created this necessary connection between larger objects and smaller objects or “gravity” and billiard balls. The only thing that we have done as humans is observe and isolate these patterns and events and then assign a “cause” to phenomenon that has already existed.