David Hume’s Analysis Of Induction Essay Example

Hume’s analysis of induction revolves around the notion that the mind tends to acquire expectations because of experiences. Sensory perceptions, in Hume’s study, tend to gather information about a particular phenomenon before storing it in the mind. As a result, when faced with a similar situation, the mind immediately conjures expectations that can hinder the assimilation of new experiences. To explain his study, Hume uses the process of eating bread. During said consumption, the eyes notice color, fingers feel texture, nose smells aroma, and if the baked dough is soft or not, the ears stand by for any sound it might emit. All senses analyze the bread and in turn, create an experience that orients the mind to remember and expect the same characteristics for every form of baked goods that appears similar to the initial food in the future. Thus, arises Hume’s arguments against induction, which according to the theorist, falsifies information and hinders the mind from opening up to new experiences. Hume’s depiction of induction as a problem is plausible and evidently, humans do rely heavily on the senses to gain new knowledge. However, Hume’s analysis falls short because of its failure to consider that the mind is capable of storing new experiences with every new sensory perception while keeping the previously gained knowledge intact.
On the bread example, Hume argues that the senses can only give information on the physical appearance of the same but leaves out other information, such as the nutrient content. As a result, a person is wrong when he or she assumes another loaf is similar to the previous one. After all, as stated before, the senses cannot give the amounts of different nutrients in the same. Perhaps if Hume used different examples to explain his ideologies, one might agree to induction being wrong. Conversely, Hume’s findings have various flaws that allow counterattacks and in turn, question the man’s perceptions. Foremost, bread is nowadays associated with brands. When buying food for the first time, one can read information on its nutrient content before purchase and later, taste, smell, and touch it to determine whether they like it or not. For this reason, the next time one buys bread they only look for the same brand, showing that senses can collect information and later allow the mind to decide because of experience. In addition, consuming baked bread does not provide the mind with the experience of eating bread alone, but other baked goods as well. Hence, it is not fitting to say that the senses can limit the brain to assume all loaves of bread taste the same. Rather, one can argue that tasting rolls of bread generate an assumption that food made of wheat and baked using the same ingredients as bread taste similar. Consequently, when they eat bread, their experience orients their minds to expect certain qualities in the food and other baked goods made of wheat. However, there are white breads, brown breads, cakes, and other delicacies that require the same cooking methods as loaves. Thus, while a person expects the qualities mentioned above, their minds register that there is a distinct difference between, for example, a cake and a loaf of bread. Hence, while the mind plays a significant role in discerning new information and storing the old ones, the senses are still important to gather information and when need be, alter it as per the new experience.