Constant conjunction does not imply causation from "summary" of An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume
When we observe two events that are constantly conjoined, such as the rising of the sun and the warming of the earth, we tend to assume a causal relationship between them. This assumption is rooted in our natural inclination to seek patterns and regularities in the world around us. We see one event follow another in a consistent manner, and we infer a connection between them. However, this inference is merely a psychological habit, not a logical necessity. Just because two events are always conjoined does not mean that one causes the other. The regularity of the conjunction may be due to a number of factors, such as mere coincidence, a common underlying cause, or the operation of some unknown principle. We cannot jump to the conclusion that one event is the cause of the other simply because they always occur together. To establish a causal relationship between two events, we must go beyond mere constant conjunction and identify ...
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