本单元对应《人性论》第一卷第四部分中关于人格同一性的集中讨论，是休谟对“自我”问题的核心论述。在这一部分中，休谟继续坚持经验主义立场，通过内省经验考察自我是否作为一个持续不变的对象出现在意识之中。
休谟指出，当人反思自身时，只能经验到具体的知觉，如感觉、情绪和思想，而无法经验到一个独立存在、恒常不变的自我。因此，自我并不是经验中的对象。
基于这一点，休谟认为所谓自我，只是一组不断变化的知觉集合，而非统一实体。知觉之间的连续与相似，使心智产生统一性的印象，但这种统一并不对应任何恒常存在的事物。
在人格同一性的问题上，休谟区分了日常语言与哲学解释。我们在实践中谈论“同一个人”是合理的，但这种同一性并非严格的数值同一。记忆将不同时刻的知觉联系起来，由此形成连续性的信念。
休谟的结论是，自我与人格同一性并非经验中发现的实体事实，而是由心理联结机制所产生的观念。
本单元问题与回答（15 题）
问 1：休谟为什么否认对自我的直接经验？
答：因为内省只能发现具体知觉，而非一个独立的自我实体。
问 2：休谟讨论自我问题的方法是什么？
答：以内省经验为出发点，而非形而上学假设。
问 3：休谟是否在经验中发现自我？
答：没有。
问 4：什么是休谟所说的“知觉之束”？
答：不断变化的感觉、情绪和思想的集合。
问 5：知觉之束是否构成统一实体？
答：不构成。
问 6：我们为何会相信自我的统一性？
答：因为知觉之间的连续与相似。
问 7：休谟如何理解人格同一性？
答：将其理解为心理连续性。
问 8：人格同一性是否意味着数值同一？
答：不意味着。
问 9：记忆在这一理论中起什么作用？
答：连接不同时刻的知觉。
问 10：人格同一性是否是经验事实？
答：不是。
问 11：休谟是否否认日常生活中的“我”？
答：没有。
问 12：休谟否认的是什么？
答：否认自我作为实体的存在方式。
问 13：这一观点是否否认知觉的存在？
答：不否认。
问 14：休谟是否试图建立新的自我本体论？
答：没有。
问 15：本单元的核心结论是什么？
答：自我是心理联结产生的观念，而非经验中的实体。
Study Notes · Unit Three
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature: The Self and Personal Identity
In Book I of the Treatise, Hume examines the self through introspection. He argues that reflection reveals only particular perceptions—such as sensations, emotions, and thoughts—and never a distinct, enduring self. The self, therefore, is not an object of experience.
On this basis, Hume holds that what is called the self is merely a collection of changing perceptions rather than a unified entity. The continuity and resemblance among perceptions generate an impression of unity, but this impression does not correspond to any permanent object.
With respect to personal identity, Hume distinguishes practical usage from philosophical interpretation. Everyday talk of “the same person” is legitimate, but it does not imply strict numerical identity. Memory connects perceptions at different times, thereby producing a belief in continuity.
Hume concludes that both the self and personal identity are not entities discovered in experience but ideas formed through psychological association.
Questions and Answers (Unit Three)
Question 1: Why does Hume deny direct experience of the self?
Answer: Because introspection reveals only particular perceptions, not an independent self.
Question 2: What method does Hume use in discussing the self?
Answer: He relies on introspective experience rather than metaphysical assumptions.
Question 3: Does Hume find the self in experience?
Answer: No.
Question 4: What is the “bundle of perceptions”?
Answer: A collection of changing sensations, emotions, and thoughts.
Question 5: Does this bundle form a unified entity?
Answer: No.
Question 6: Why do we believe the self is unified?
Answer: Because of continuity and resemblance among perceptions.
Question 7: How does Hume understand personal identity?
Answer: As psychological continuity.
Question 8: Does personal identity imply numerical identity?
Answer: No.
Question 9: What role does memory play?
Answer: It connects perceptions at different times.
Question 10: Is personal identity an empirical fact?
Answer: No.
Question 11: Does Hume reject everyday talk of the self?
Answer: No.
Question 12: What does Hume reject?
Answer: The self as a substance.
Question 13: Does this view deny the existence of perceptions?
Answer: No.
Question 14: Does Hume construct a new ontology of the self?
Answer: No.
Question 15: What is the central conclusion of this unit?
Answer: The self is an idea produced by psychological association, not an entity given in experience.
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