David Hume Research Paper

Hume’s primary idea centers around the belief that the self does not exist, and it is our perceptions that create us. The bundle formed by everything that we sense is what we each individually consist of. Hume explained this theory through an analogy of a theatre. In summary, the mind is like a theatre, in which our perceptions are constantly crossing the stage, leaving, and returning, and this is what creates our identity. In order to reach this conclusion, Hume looked into himself and found that not only was he never without perceptions, but could never catch “himself”. In search of a core being within himself, Hume found only perceptions. Thus, he concluded that these sense experiences were what defined him. This conclusion maintains that
He completely disregards the ability of self to be an intuitive idea, and assumes that there is no possibility of some ideas being naturally ingrained in humans. The idea that people can intuitively have thoughts without basing them on perceptions discounts Hume’s argument about the nonexistent self; this is because he came to this conclusion by stating that because all ideas must be based on perceptions, so must the idea of self. Hume also presents the idea that we do not perceive while we dream. This point is highly debatable, as it brings up the discussion of what counts as a perception, and if we can perceive things while unconscious. Because dreams become memories and involve multiple senses, it is a common idea that they are also sense experiences; therefore you must exist during a dream because you are perceiving. The greatest shortcoming in his writing is when he states that when he introspects, he “never can catch myself”. In this he entertains the assumption that because he can’t find himself, others also lack the ability to find themselves. His argument, therefore, can be easily refuted by those who claim that when they search within themselves, they find a core, a soul, or their true
Scientifically, Hume’s theory is supported by neuroscientists, who, after studying the brain found that there is no center where perceptions connect in the brain. These findings thus rule out the Soul theory, and support Hume’s beliefs about perceptions relation to who we are. Without a center in the brain, the possibility of having ingrained thoughts that accompany us throughout life is doubtful. Our individual identities are defined by what we experience, perceive, and remember, and that leaves no place for intuitive thoughts to add to our identity. When Hume states that when we do not perceive we do not exist, many people get stuck on his statement that when sleeping we do not exist. Hume’s argument about existence does not broach the topic of our physical existence while without perceptions, but is solely related to our mental subsistence. As previously stated, our perceptions are what define our identity; so it follows that when we are without these impressions, we can not exist. While we may physically remain, our individual identities must no longer exist, as we are not experiencing senses, memories, or impressions. Dreams add to our overall identity because they contribute to our memories, but are not part of our identity while we dream them, as during a dream we do not perceive and therefore do not exist. The most controversial belief of Hume is that because he cannot find a