The concept of causality in the philosophical and economic works of David Hume

Abstract

David Hume is considered one of the most important English-speaking philosophers. This is largely due to his critique of the concept of causality, which awakened Kant from his "dogmatic slumber". On another level, Hume's critique of the commercial system is also recognized. Generally, these two contributions have been studied separately. This paper attempts to address together the concept of causality that Hume develops in both critiques. In his philosophical work, Hume argues that the concept of causality is not a product of reason, but a belief that comes from the habit of perceiving that one empirical fact happens after another. On the other hand, in his economic work he relies on universal causal laws about economic phenomena to show the contradictory nature of mercantilist policy prescriptions.