David Hume

David Hume was a philosopher, historian and economist during the Enlightenment. Hume had considerable influence on other philosophers of the period, including Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: David Hume

Hume's problem of causation discusses the relationship between objects. He maintains that until we understand the "necessary connection"Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Necessary Connection and the Definition of Cause between objects, we can't achieve "certainty of knowledge".Space and Motion: Space and Motion

The problem of induction questions the way humans form expectations about what will happen in the future. Hume asks whether it is appropriate to "induce" expectations of the future from past experience.Princeton University: The Problem of Induction

Also known as "Hume's Guillotine," the "is-ought problem" reflects Hume's assertion that many writers form statements about what "ought to be" from what "is."Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Hume's Moral Philosophy (October 29, 2004)

"If I ask you why you believe any particular matter of fact, which you relate, you must tell me some reason; and this reason will be some other fact, connected with it. But as you cannot proceed after this manner, in infinitum, you must at last terminate in some fact, which is present to your memory or senses; or must allow that your belief is entirely without foundation."—David HumeSpace and Motion: Space and Motion

• 1711: Born on April 26

• 1723: Enrolls in Edinburgh University to study law.

• 1734: Visits France, and begins writing Treatise of Human Nature.

• 1739: First two volumes of the Treatise of Human Nature published.

• 1752: Begins work on The History of England which is published in five volumes from 1752 to 1764.

• 1763: Serves as secretary to the British ambassador to Paris.

• 1767: Is appointed British undersecretary of state.

• 1769: Retires to Edinburgh

• 1776: Died on August 25 of cancer.