What is the problem of induction associated with David Hume?

The problem of induction is the challenge of justifying inferences from observed instances to unobserved ones, a concept famously formulated by the Scottish philosopher David Hume.1

Hume argued that such inferences rely on the premise that the future will resemble the past. However, he contended that this premise cannot be rationally justified. Any attempt to prove it by appealing to past experience is circular, as it assumes the very principle it seeks to establish—that the future will continue to resemble the past.1

Furthermore, Hume addressed the notion of cause and effect, or "necessary connection." He observed that we never actually perceive a necessary link between events; we only observe a "constant conjunction" where one event follows another. Because we cannot rationally establish that these patterns must continue, Hume concluded that beliefs based on induction—such as the expectation that the Sun will rise or that fire will produce heat—are not supported by reason.12

It is important to clarify that Hume did not deny that people form these beliefs; rather, he argued that they lack a rational foundation and cannot be known to be true.1