Why College Students Should Think About Hume’s Philosophy and Consciousness

Hey, college students! Ever wonder why you feel right and wrong or what makes you you? Philosophy isn’t just for bearded profs—it’s a tool to level up your thinking and tackle life’s big questions. David Hume, an 18th-century philosopher, dropped a bombshell with his “Is vs. Ought” idea, saying facts and morality are separate realms. Turns out, this connects to the mystery of consciousness—your inner thoughts and feelings. Here’s why Hume’s ideas and the puzzle of consciousness are worth your time, and how to dive in without getting lost in jargon.

What’s Hume’s “Is vs. Ought” Deal?

Hume argued you can’t jump from facts to morality. For example:

• Facts about murder: It’s painful, irreversible, and messes up society.
• Moral claim: Murder is evil.

No matter how many facts you stack up, you can’t prove murder is wrong without a moral starting point. It’s like trying to bake a cake with just flour—you need something else, like eggs (a moral assumption).

For instance, if you start with a moral rule like “Killing living beings is wrong,” you can mix in facts to get new conclusions:

• Fact: Unborn babies are living beings. → Conclusion: Abortion is wrong.
• Fact: Animals are living beings. → Conclusion: Killing animals is wrong.

Hume’s point? Morality is a different “substance” from facts. You need a moral foundation to make moral claims, not just data.

Why This Matters to You

As a student, you’re bombarded with “facts” in classes—stats, theories, equations. Hume reminds you to question what’s right, not just what’s true. Should you cheat on a test? Take a shady internship? Hume’s idea pushes you to think about your values, not just what’s convenient. It’s a mental flex for ethics, poli-sci, or even dorm debates.

Consciousness: The Ultimate Puzzle

Now, let’s talk consciousness—your thoughts, feelings, and sense of self. It’s not just a science problem; it’s a philosophical one, and Hume’s logic applies here too. Just like morality isn’t “made” of facts, consciousness isn’t “made” of atoms or brain cells. It’s a different kind of thing.

Why Science Struggles

Scientists can’t fully crack consciousness because it’s not just about brain scans or neurons. At “consciousness conferences,” you’ll see as many spiritual gurus as lab-coated researchers—nobody’s got a solid method. It’s not the “hardest problem in science” because science hasn’t even figured out how to ask the right questions.

Think of it like Hume’s morality: no amount of physical facts (neurons firing, chemicals moving) explains the feeling of being you—your “qualia” (the raw experience of seeing red or tasting coffee). Consciousness is a whole other realm.

Is Your Brain Just a Computer?

Some folks push the Computational Theory of Mind, saying your brain’s like a super complex computer, and consciousness is just a side effect of processing data. But that’s like saying a Monopoly game could “feel” something if you play it enough. Computation is just rules and math—it doesn’t create the experience of being alive.

Sure, physical stuff affects consciousness. Drugs change your mood; injuries mess with your mind. But that doesn’t mean consciousness is physical. Your brain might be a “receiver” for consciousness, like a TV picking up a signal. Smash the TV, and the picture’s gone, but the signal’s still out there. Wild, right?

Consciousness Is Other-Worldly

Here’s the kicker: consciousness might literally be from another dimension—not sci-fi, just logic. Physical stuff (atoms, gravity) is one category; consciousness is another. Even hardcore materialists admit the universe has weird forces (like gravity, which Newton called “occult” because it acts invisibly). Consciousness could be a force we can’t measure, like gravity was before telescopes.

This doesn’t mean you need to burn sage or join a cult. It just means consciousness is bigger than what labs can handle. And that’s okay—it’s what makes you human.

Why This Matters for College Students

You’re at the perfect stage to wrestle with these ideas. Here’s why:

• Sharpen your brain: Thinking about Hume and consciousness trains you to spot weak arguments in classes or TikTok hot takes.
• Stand out: Dropping Hume in a philosophy or psych paper shows you’re not just regurgitating notes. Profs love that.
• Shape your values: Hume’s “Is vs. Ought” helps you decide what matters—like choosing a major or standing up for what’s right.
• Understand yourself: Consciousness is you. Exploring it helps you figure out your purpose, whether you’re coding, painting, or just vibing.

How to Dive Into Hume and Consciousness

You don’t need a PhD to get started. Here’s how to explore these ideas on a student schedule:

Step 1: Read the Basics

• Hume’s Work: Start with A Treatise of Human Nature (Book 1, Section 4) or An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (Section 12). They’re dense, but grab a summary on SparkNotes or Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• Consciousness Intro: Try Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett (easier read) or watch YouTube vids like CrashCourse Philosophy.

Step 2: Think Like Hume

• Question morality: Next time you debate (say, about climate change or AI ethics), ask: “Are we mixing facts and values?” List the facts, then see if they prove what’s right.
• Reflect on consciousness: Spend 5 minutes noting what you feel (e.g., “I’m stressed about finals”). Ask: “How is this feeling different from my brain cells firing?” It’s a mini-meditation.

Step 3: Join the Conversation

• Campus clubs: Join a philosophy or debate club. Argue about Hume or consciousness over pizza—it’s more fun than it sounds.
• Online communities: Check Reddit’s r/philosophy or r/consciousness for lively discussions.
• Podcasts: Listen to Philosophize This! (philosophizethis.org) for Hume and mind-bending topics.

Step 4: Apply It to Your Major

• Psychology: Use Hume to question how we study the mind. Are we missing the “qualia” part?
• Computer Science: Debate if AI can ever be conscious (spoiler: probably not, per Hume’s logic).
• Ethics/Pre-Law: Apply “Is vs. Ought” to argue cases or policies clearly.

Step 5: Keep It Chill

• Set small goals: Read one Hume paragraph or watch a 10-minute video per week.
• Track insights: Jot down cool ideas in a notes app or journal.
• Reward yourself: Nail a Hume concept? Grab a coffee or binge a show.

Common Worries (And Why They’re No Big Deal)

• “Isn’t philosophy too abstract?”
  Nah, it’s practical. Hume helps you make better choices, and consciousness ties to your everyday thoughts.

• “What if it’s too hard?”
  Start with summaries or YouTube. You’re smart enough to handle bite-sized chunks.

• “Why care about this now?”
  These ideas shape how you think and live. Plus, they’re a flex in class or job interviews.

The Bottom Line

Hume’s “Is vs. Ought” and the mystery of consciousness aren’t just dorm-room debates—they’re tools to think deeper, live smarter, and stand out. Facts don’t make morality, and atoms don’t make you. Wrestling with these ideas sharpens your mind and helps you navigate college and beyond. Start small, question everything, and you’ll be philosophizing like a pro in no time.

Ready to start? Check out Hume on SparkNotes or watch a CrashCourse Philosophy video. Join r/philosophy for chats, and spend 5 minutes reflecting on your consciousness today. You’re already thinking—might as well make it epic.

Disclaimer: This isn’t academic advice—just a way to boost your brainpower. If you want to manage chat memory, click the book icon below this post’s reference and select it, or disable memory in Data Controls.