Constant conjunction
Encyclopedia
"Constant conjunction" is a phrase used in philosophy as a variant or near synonym for causality
and induction
. It can be construed to contradict a more common phrase: Correlation is not causation. It is often associated with or in constant concomitance with the philosopher David Hume
who used the phrase with great regularity in his discussion of the limits of empiricism
to provide an explanation for our ideas of causation and inference
. In An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
and A Treatise of Human Nature
Hume proposed that the origin of our knowledge of necessary connections arises out of observation of constant conjunction of certain impressions across many instances. A more modern conception would argue that Scientific law
is distinguishable from a principle that arises merely accidentally because of the constant conjunction of one thing and another, but there is considerable controversy over what this distinguishing feature might be.
Although British empiricism and associationist philosophers elaborated on Hume's fundamental idea in many diverse ways, and metaphsyicians like Immanual Kant
tried to dissipate the position with vacuities, the force of his arguments have remained remarkably robust, and have found unexpected support in three Protean scientific discoveries in the 20th century: Pavlov
's laws of conditioning; Hebbian neural network
s; and synaptic time dependent plasticity STDP.
In Pavlov's framework, an unconditioned stimulus can follow in constant conjunction a conditioning/conditioned stimulus within a timeframe of milliseconds to several seconds, and result in the conditioned stimulus having many of the properties of the unconditioned stimulus. Donald Hebb explained this as an intrinsic property of cell assemblies within the nervous system to form connections within large cliques of cells whenever those cells fire together within a reasonably short period of time. (A modern shorthand for his ideas states: "Cells that fire together, wire together".) Modern neuroscience
has confirmed this insight as a product of the activity of synapses and STDP, so structured to strengthen connections between cells that fire within very short periods (10s of milliseconds) of each other. The longer time periods of classical conditioning are presumably a large number effect of cliques of these synapses and cells.
Causality
Causality is the relationship between an event and a second event , where the second event is understood as a consequence of the first....
and induction
Induction
-General use:* Induction , induction of childbirth* Rite of passage** Introduction of an individual into a body such as the armed forces** Formal introduction of a priest into possession of the position to which she or he has been presented and instituted...
. It can be construed to contradict a more common phrase: Correlation is not causation. It is often associated with or in constant concomitance with the philosopher David Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
who used the phrase with great regularity in his discussion of the limits of empiricism
Empiricism
Empiricism is a theory of knowledge that asserts that knowledge comes only or primarily via sensory experience. One of several views of epistemology, the study of human knowledge, along with rationalism, idealism and historicism, empiricism emphasizes the role of experience and evidence,...
to provide an explanation for our ideas of causation and inference
Inference
Inference is the act or process of deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true. The conclusion drawn is also called an idiomatic. The laws of valid inference are studied in the field of logic.Human inference Inference is the act or process of deriving logical conclusions...
. In An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding is a book by the Scottish empiricist philosopher David Hume, published in 1748. It was a revision of an earlier effort, Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature, published anonymously in London in 1739–40...
and A Treatise of Human Nature
A Treatise of Human Nature
A Treatise of Human Nature is a book by Scottish philosopher David Hume, first published in 1739–1740.The full title of the Treatise is 'A Treatise of Human Nature: Being an Attempt to introduce the experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects'. It contains the following sections:* Book 1:...
Hume proposed that the origin of our knowledge of necessary connections arises out of observation of constant conjunction of certain impressions across many instances. A more modern conception would argue that Scientific law
Scientific law
A scientific law is a statement that explains what something does in science just like Newton's law of universal gravitation. A scientific law must always apply under the same conditions, and implies a causal relationship between its elements. The law must be confirmed and broadly agreed upon...
is distinguishable from a principle that arises merely accidentally because of the constant conjunction of one thing and another, but there is considerable controversy over what this distinguishing feature might be.
Although British empiricism and associationist philosophers elaborated on Hume's fundamental idea in many diverse ways, and metaphsyicians like Immanual Kant
KANT
KANT is a computer algebra system for mathematicians interested in algebraic number theory, performing sophisticated computations in algebraic number fields, in global function fields, and in local fields. KASH is the associated command line interface...
tried to dissipate the position with vacuities, the force of his arguments have remained remarkably robust, and have found unexpected support in three Protean scientific discoveries in the 20th century: Pavlov
Pavlov
-People:*Pavlov *Ivan Pavlov, a psychologist famous for his experiment in classical conditioning.-Places:*in the Czech Republic:**Pavlov **Pavlov **Pavlov **Pavlov...
's laws of conditioning; Hebbian neural network
Neural network
The term neural network was traditionally used to refer to a network or circuit of biological neurons. The modern usage of the term often refers to artificial neural networks, which are composed of artificial neurons or nodes...
s; and synaptic time dependent plasticity STDP.
In Pavlov's framework, an unconditioned stimulus can follow in constant conjunction a conditioning/conditioned stimulus within a timeframe of milliseconds to several seconds, and result in the conditioned stimulus having many of the properties of the unconditioned stimulus. Donald Hebb explained this as an intrinsic property of cell assemblies within the nervous system to form connections within large cliques of cells whenever those cells fire together within a reasonably short period of time. (A modern shorthand for his ideas states: "Cells that fire together, wire together".) Modern neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
has confirmed this insight as a product of the activity of synapses and STDP, so structured to strengthen connections between cells that fire within very short periods (10s of milliseconds) of each other. The longer time periods of classical conditioning are presumably a large number effect of cliques of these synapses and cells.