ABSTRACT
David Hume’s theory of belief is sometimes referred to as though it were fully described in his statement that a belief is a lively idea associated with a present impression. Considering the causes of belief, Hume finds them to be the three relations of association. But though ideas are found to be associated with impressions by resemblance, such beliefs are of the memory and senses alone. Within the system of beliefs which is that of the memory and the senses alone, there are thus to be distinguished those beliefs which will be caused by just any association by resemblance and contiguity, and those caused only by such associations as are constant and coherent. Because these latter associations are repeated constantly, the habits thus formed will be very strong and concrete, or “entire.” The beliefs, which habitual associations by resemblance and contiguity alone contribute to constitute, will be beliefs in the “real existence” of things present.
