David Hume’s Treatise of Human Nature carries the idea of the copying principle. The copy principle holds that simple concepts are born from simple perceptions. Hume defined an impression as “sensations” or “passions and emotions”, while ideas were “faint pictures of each other” in reasoning and thinking (Hume 208). Empiricism can be understood as the way humans gain knowledge (via their senses). I agree with Hume that empiricism is best understood as humans gaining knowledge through experience (via the senses).
Hume presents various examples to support his claims. The first of these is that ideas and perceptions follow a cycle, whereby every idea has an impression similar to it and each impression has a supporting idea. Ideas and impressions should be similar because they are both representations of each other. Hume explains where ideas are derived and which impression is the result. He argues that impressions always come before ideas and that they don’t exactly match. He claims that although we can “see colour and feel sensations just by thinking them”, ideas lack “force and livelyness” (Hume, 210). Hume then goes on to explain how impressions and ideas are similar but not identical. As we combine pre-existing concepts and use our imagination, we can form an impression of something without ever having seen it. Hume concludes his argument with a look at human behavior. Most humans act on impulse, so they are susceptible to impressions. Impressions are used to execute ideas, and the cycle of copying principle is evident. I agree that Hume’s theory on the copy principle is correct because an impression must exist for an idea to be carried out. This idea contributes to the empiricism of a person because they form their ideas and impressions from experience. It is through experience that humans gain impressions and form ideas. Humans can combine ideas that they already have to come up with a new one or can create new inventions in order to solve problems. Human emotion is what creates the impression, and that leads to the invention and formulation of ideas. This principle has been used throughout history, and it’s how we got to where we are today.
