This is a 5 page paper discussing Locke and Hume’s perspectives on power, cause and effect, and necessary connections in their essays on human understanding. Philosophers John Locke and David Hume wrote on human understanding in regards to relationships, power, cause and effect and necessary connection. Locke who wrote “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” in the late 17th century wrote of the relationships which exist between active and passive power, and the presence of cause and effect as necessary connections in the formulation of individual thoughts of substance, perceptions and ideas. David Hume, who wrote “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding” in the mid-18th century basically rejected the causal connections argued by Locke in that man can only gain impressions or ideas from his own experience and that these ideas have “unknown causes”. In addition, things of substance and power are also only based on impressions and perceptions and cannot be considered concrete arguments. Both perspectives are still well received today but with some areas of contention. Locke presents a great deal of his material based on the assumption of God’s existence. However, his support of arguments for cause and effect hold within the scientific community. Hume, on the other hand, presents his arguments from a skeptical or atheist standpoint in which perceptions or ideas can only be formulated from experience; ideas also supported by the scientific community. However, Hume rejects the reliance of cause and effect to support arguments; a reliance which of course is a large factor in today’s society, not only from a scientific standpoint but from a philosophical and political standpoint as well.
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effect and necessary connection. Locke who wrote "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" in the late 17th century wrote of the relationships which exist between active and passive power, and the
presence of cause and effect as necessary connections in the formulation of individual thoughts of substance, perceptions and ideas. David Hume, who wrote "An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding" in the
mid-18th century basically rejected the causal connections argued by Locke in that man can only gain impressions or ideas from his own experience and that these ideas have "unknown causes".
In addition, things of substance and power are also only based on impressions and perceptions and cannot be considered concrete arguments. Both perspectives are still well received today but with
some areas of contention. Locke presents a great deal of his material based on the assumption of Gods existence. However, his support of arguments for cause and effect hold within
the scientific community. Hume, on the other hand, presents his arguments from a skeptical or atheist standpoint in which perceptions or ideas can only be formulated from experience; ideas also
supported by the scientific community. However, Hume rejects the reliance of cause and effect to support arguments; a reliance which of course is a large factor in todays society, not
only from a scientific standpoint but from a philosophical and political standpoint as well. British philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) is known for
his opposition to authoritarianism and his promotion for individuals to use reason to search for truth rather than willingly accept those posed by the church of the government. In addition,
Locke is also known for his opinions regarding the proper use of institutions within society in regards to their legitimate or illegitimate use of force and power. Lockes "An Essay
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