Question

A researcher examined the relationship between antibiotic consumption and the risk of breast cancer. He concluded that antibiotic causes an increased risk of breast cancer. Using Lewis’s (1973) criticism to Hume’s definition of causation as a basis, explain whether this estimation is credible. If so, provide evidence on how this estimation is credible. If not, suggest possible method(s) to overcome this empirical challenge.

Answer 1

Ans. According to Hume’s definition of causation we cannot attain enough information of what causes what on the basis of a single objects or single instance. On the basis of a single variable we cannot even form the idea of causation which is more than the idea of one object being followed by another.

Here we cannot conclude that antibiotic causes an increased risk of breast cancer as there will be other severe factors also along with the consumption of antibiotic which are getting ignored by the researcher.

So we can say that this estimation is not credible.