David Hume's Section Nine: Summary

Hume begins section nine with the assertion that we reason by way of analogy. That is, we come to expect certain events from particular causes. Being presented with similar causes will give rise to inferences, and different cases with varying degrees of similarity will have corresponding levels of analogy, with very similar cases resulting in inferences that are taken to be certain and conclusive. Hume provides an example of a strong case of similarity, in which a man, who is familiar with iron, can be certain in inferring the weight and composition of pieces of iron which he has yet to come into contact with. In such a scenario, the man would have no room for doubt that he should expect a new piece of iron to be any different from previously