What Binds the Effects to the Cause

What Binds the Effect to the Cause
According to Hume, the idea of force, power or necessary connection are the most obscure and uncertain ideas that occur in metaphysics, and therefore tries to define the idea of necessary connection, any quality that “binds the effect to the cause” (Solomon, Martin393). In order to define the idea of necessary connections, Hume attempts to search for its sources. Hume examines the idea of necessary connection with external objects, the human will and God.
In terms of external objects, Hume rejects any power or necessary connection. A moving billiard ball (A) does not cause the second ball (B) to move. The movement of ball B only follows the movement of ball A through a series of like events. He says, “We only find, that the one does actually, in fact, follow the other […] in an uninterrupted succession; but the power of force, which actuates the whole machine, is entirely concealed from us” (393). We can never speculate what effect will result from an on object from the first appearance of that object. We are not able to imagine that it could produce anything, “or be followed by another object, which we could denominate its effect” (393). We know for a fact that flame gives off heat, but the connection between the two is unknown.
Hume then examines if the idea of necessary connection can be “derived from reflection of the operations of our own minds” (394). In order for the idea of necessary connection to be caused by our own will, “we must know the secret union of soul and body” (394). When you want to move your hand, your body follows. However, the connection between mind and body is unknown. Also, we are not able to freely move involuntary organs, such as the heart and liver. “Why has the will an influence over the tongue and fingers, not over the heart or liver” (394), that we do not know.
Finally, Hume argues on the idea of necessary connection with God. He says that the generality of mankind believe that God has the...