David Hume divided knowledge into two categories “relations of ideas”, and “matters of fact”. Relations of ideas are truthful and correct statements (for example “all unmarried men are bachelors”). Matters of fact are statements we are nearly certain are truthful but there is still a chance for it to be false: “the sun will rise in the morning”: there is a chance it will not rise.
Hume's fork
Questions and Answers
Q: What did David Hume divide knowledge into?
A: David Hume divided knowledge into two categories: “relations of ideas”, and “matters of fact”.
Q: What are “relations of ideas”?
A: “Relations of ideas” are truthful and correct statements, such as “all unmarried men are bachelors”.
Q: What are “matters of fact”?
A: “Matters of fact” are statements that we are nearly certain are truthful but there is still a chance for it to be false, such as “the sun will rise in the morning”.
Q: Why is there a chance that “matters of fact” might be false?
A: There is a chance that “matters of fact” might be false because they are based on empirical observations that can always be contradicted by further observations.
Q: Can "matters of fact" be entirely proven?
A: "Matters of fact" cannot be entirely proven, as their truth can always be undermined by new observations or knowledge.
Q: What are some examples of “relations of ideas”?
A: Some examples of “relations of ideas” are: 1) All triangles have three sides, 2) Two plus two equals four, 3) The sum of the angles in a triangle equals 180 degrees.
Q: What are some examples of “matters of fact”?
A: Some examples of “matters of fact” are: 1) The earth revolves around the sun, 2) The boiling point of water at sea level is 100°C, 3) The oldest known pyramid in Egypt was built around 2630 BCE.