Consequences of the Idealist Interpretation for Causation

In this chapter, I discuss the second metaphysical implication of the Idealist reading, pertaining to causation. Spatial contiguity seems to be one of the three conditions Hume discerns for causation in his analysis of the concept. Furthermore, Hume thinks causes precede their effects. This means, for the Idealist, that the requisite contiguity is between objects in successive impressions. But this condition, I argued, is never satisfied. So the Idealist is seemingly committed to there being no causal relations even of the constant conjunction kind. In response, I argue that Hume’s Idealist is not saddled with this disastrous claim. While accepts the supposition that causes must precede their effects, he rejects the contiguity requirement, and for good reason.