Hsueh M. Qu has recently argued that Hume’s famed ‘Separability Principle’ from the Treatise entangles him in a contradiction. Qu offers a modified principle as a solution but also argues that the mature Hume would not have needed to avail himself of it, given that Hume’s arguments in the first Enquiry do not depend on this principle in any form. To the contrary, I show that arguments in the first Enquiry depend on this principle, but I agree with Qu that Qu’s solution to Hume’s quandary frees him of the contradiction. Next, I compare Qu’s solution to Hume’s original position. By analysing the divergent forms of 'Hume’s Dictum’ that follow from them, I show that Qu’s solution and Hume’s original position have significantly different consequences in a range of domains, including Hume’s modality. Generally, Qu’s solution fits better with Hume’s other commitments—even though Hume often fails to recognize it—thereby increasing its plausibility.

中文翻译：

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休谟的可分离性原理、他的格言及其含义

曲薛明 (Hsueh M. Qu) 最近指出，休谟在《论》中著名的“可分离性原理”使他陷入了矛盾。屈提供了一个修改后的原则作为解决方案，但也认为成熟的休谟不需要利用它，因为休谟在第一个探究中的论点不以任何形式依赖于这个原则。相反，我表明第一个探究中的论点依赖于这一原则，但我同意屈的观点，即屈对休谟困境的解决使他摆脱了矛盾。接下来，我将曲的解决方案与休谟的原始立场进行比较。通过分析由此产生的“休谟格言”的不同形式，我表明屈的解决方案和休谟的原始立场在一系列领域（包括休谟的模态）中具有显着不同的结果。一般来说，