Resumen

PEREIRA JUNIOR, Alfredo. Hume: causal theory of freedom and indeterminism. Trans/Form/Ação [online]. 1993, vol.16, pp.29-41. ISSN 0101-3173.  https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-31731993000100002.

Although Hume seems to suppose that natural processes occur in a deterministic way, his conception of causality prohibits us from knowing them as deterministic. The reason is that for him the idea of a necessary connection between events is purely psychological. In our analysis of this question, we argue that: a) in his main references about causality, Hume does not assume a strong ontological commitment with determinism; b) certain parts of his texts suggest that indeterminism is non eliminable, in the knowledge of nature; and c) his causal conception of freedom supposes indeterminism in natural processes, and not in our knowledge of them only.

Palabras clave : Indeterminism; causality; freedom; necessity; chance.

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