Meanings
proper noun
- human sciencesThe idea that what ought to be the case cannot be deduced from what is already the case.
Synonyms: Hume's guillotine
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounThe idea that what ought to be the case cannot be deduced from what is already the case.
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Origin
Named after Scottish philosopher and historian David Hume (1711–1776).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
Hume's law. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hume's%20law
MLA
“Hume's law.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hume's%20law. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Hume's law,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hume's%20law.
Source: Hume's law on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.