Survey Results

Laws of nature: Humean or non-Humean?

Population

AOS

Region

for

Exclude answers beyond respondent's first 50

Include skip/insufficiently familiar answers

1554 respondents

What the percentages mean: "Accept or lean toward P: 50% (40%)" means that 50% of respondents endorsed this answer inclusively (including multiple-answer endorsements) and 40% endorsed this answer exclusively (excluding multiple-answer endorsements).

These results should not be used for comparison to 2009 results due to different populations and parameters. For meaningful longitudinal comparisons, see the longitudinal analysis section.

Collapse accept and lean towards

Accept or lean towards:
Humean

31.27% (30.82%)

Reject or lean against:
Humean

0.06% (0.00%)

Accept or lean towards:
non-Humean

54.31% (53.73%)

Reject or lean against:
non-Humean

0.00% (0.00%)

Accept a combination of views

0.58%

Accept an alternative view

1.87%

The question is too unclear to answer

2.64%

There is no fact of the matter

0.71%

Agnostic/undecided

9.46%

Other

0.19%

N = 1554, excluding skipped & insufficiently familiar (231 respondents)

Longitudinal comparison to 2009 survey

Comparison type

AOS

Geographic filters do not apply to this section.

Option

2009

2020

Change

Swing

Option

Accept or lean towards: Humean

24.7%

24.38%

0.32

4.26

2009	24.7%
2020	24.38%
Change	0.32
Swing	4.26

Accept or lean towards: non-Humean

57.14%

48.3%

8.84

-4.26

2009	57.14%
2020	48.3%
Change	8.84
Swing	-4.26

Accept a combination of views

1.29%

0.77%

0.52

2009	1.29%
2020	0.77%
Change	0.52

Accept an alternative view

1.18%

1.23%

0.05

2009	1.18%
2020	1.23%
Change	0.05

The question is too unclear to answer

1.83%

2.47%

0.64

2009	1.83%
2020	2.47%
Change	0.64

There is no fact of the matter

0.21%

0.77%

0.56

2009	0.21%
2020	0.77%
Change	0.56

Insufficiently familiar with the issue

5.48%

11.11%

5.63

2009	5.48%
2020	11.11%
Change	5.63

Agnostic/undecided

6.44%

9.88%

3.44

2009	6.44%
2020	9.88%
Change	3.44

Skipped

1.18%

0.93%

0.25

2009	1.18%
2020	0.93%
Change	0.25

Other

0.54%

0.15%

0.39

2009	0.54%
2020	0.15%
Change	0.39

N (2020) = 648
N (2009) = 931

Weighted values

Option	2009	2020	Change
Humean	33.49	31.82	1.67
Non-Humean	51.54	58.3	6.76

Strongest correlations with main questions (target population)

r: 0.37	Practical reason: Humean
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	134	110
Reject	101	348

n: 693

p < 0.0001

r: 0.36	Knowledge: empiricism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	306	87
Reject	330	405

n: 1128

p < 0.0001

r: -0.35	Meaning of life: objective
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	71	309
Reject	399	395

n: 1174

p < 0.0001

r: -0.34	Meta-ethics: moral realism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	212	216
Reject	692	220

n: 1340

p < 0.0001

r: -0.32	Metaontology: heavyweight realism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	46	131
Reject	206	186

n: 569

p < 0.0001

r: -0.32	Abstract objects: Platonism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	118	303
Reject	447	397

n: 1265

p < 0.0001

r: -0.3	Moral judgment: cognitivism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	252	171
Reject	713	172

n: 1308

p < 0.0001

r: -0.3	Practical reason: Aristotelian
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	67	176
Reject	229	222

n: 694

p < 0.0001

r: -0.28	Aesthetic value: objective
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	148	264
Reject	491	347

n: 1250

p < 0.0001

r: -0.28	Cosmological fine-tuning: design
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	12	194
Reject	114	358

n: 678

p < 0.0001

r: -0.28	Material composition: restrictivism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	33	89
Reject	163	168

n: 453

p < 0.0001

r: 0.27	Material composition: nihilism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	21	101
Reject	19	312

n: 453

p < 0.0001

r: 0.27	Causation: counterfactual/difference-making
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	139	102
Reject	163	342

n: 746

p < 0.0001

r: 0.26	Metaphilosophy: naturalism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	287	113
Reject	375	395

n: 1170

p < 0.0001

r: 0.26	Truth: deflationary
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	162	249
Reject	182	666

n: 1259

p < 0.0001

r: -0.25	Causation: primitive
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	23	214
Reject	148	354

n: 739

p < 0.0001

r: -0.24	Truth: correspondence
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	187	225
Reject	541	307

n: 1260

p < 0.0001

r: 0.24	External world: skepticism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	52	387
Reject	24	905

n: 1368

p < 0.0001

r: 0.24	Law: legal positivism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	91	76
Reject	119	219

n: 505

p < 0.0001

r: -0.24	Well-being: objective list
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	104	132
Reject	335	165

n: 736

p < 0.0001

r: -0.23	A priori knowledge: yes
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	303	144
Reject	785	156

n: 1388

p < 0.0001

r: -0.23	Science: scientific realism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	300	126
Reject	750	149

n: 1325

p < 0.0001

r: -0.23	Time: A-theory
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	60	202
Reject	223	394

n: 879

p < 0.0001

r: -0.23	True contradictions: impossible
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	137	81
Reject	445	98

n: 761

p < 0.0001

r: -0.23	Morality: non-naturalism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	33	218
Reject	210	358

n: 819

p < 0.0001

r: -0.22	Consciousness: dualism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	38	217
Reject	165	362

n: 782

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Response to external-world skepticism: pragmatic
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	87	144
Reject	89	429

n: 749

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Mind: physicalism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	305	136
Reject	449	432

n: 1322

p < 0.0001

r: -0.22	Concepts: nativism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	51	169
Reject	172	257

n: 649

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Quantum mechanics: many-worlds
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	46	98
Reject	52	270

n: 466

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Experience machine: yes
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	104	317
Reject	86	789

n: 1296

p < 0.0001

r: -0.22	Propositions: structured entities
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	66	138
Reject	221	229

n: 654

p < 0.0001

r: -0.22	Philosophical methods: intuition-based philosophy
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	176	287
Reject	546	356

n: 1365

p < 0.0001

r: -0.22	God: theism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	47	405
Reject	236	686

n: 1374

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Normative ethics: consequentialism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	185	227
Reject	254	601

n: 1267

p < 0.0001

r: -0.21	Theory of reference: causal
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	88	135
Reject	281	185

n: 689

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Metaontology: anti-realism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	42	135
Reject	28	361

n: 566

p < 0.0001

r: -0.21	Free will: libertarianism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	54	394
Reject	233	688

n: 1369

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Abortion: permissible
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	272	26
Reject	489	122

n: 909

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Meaning of life: subjective
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	207	174
Reject	269	526

n: 1176

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Morality: constructivism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	81	173
Reject	96	472

n: 822

p < 0.0001

r: -0.21	External world: non-skeptical realism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	348	91
Reject	832	97

n: 1368

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Properties: classes
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	39	132
Reject	39	415

n: 625

p < 0.0001

r: 0.2	Chinese room: understands
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	76	186
Reject	85	471

n: 818

p < 0.0001

r: 0.2	Theory of reference: deflationary
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	65	154
Reject	56	405

n: 680

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Causation: nonexistent
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	22	217
Reject	11	490

n: 740

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Extended mind: yes
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	171	83
Reject	250	272

n: 776

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Metaontology: deflationary realism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	72	105
Reject	107	283

n: 567

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Justification: coherentism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	85	156
Reject	108	386

n: 735

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	True contradictions: actual
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	47	171
Reject	48	495

n: 761

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Meaning of life: nonexistent
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	117	258
Reject	118	669

n: 1162

p < 0.0001

r: -0.19	Interlevel metaphysics: grounding
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	40	132
Reject	163	246

n: 581

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Continuum hypothesis: determinate
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	42	78
Reject	127	159

n: 406

p: 0.0002

r: 0.18	Mind uploading: survival
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	96	136
Reject	143	408

n: 783

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Morality: expressivism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	41	211
Reject	48	520

n: 820

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	True contradictions: possible but non-actual
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	18	200
Reject	20	523

n: 761

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Propositions: nonexistent
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	55	148
Reject	54	395

n: 652

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Justification: nonreliabilist foundationalism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	48	193
Reject	174	318

n: 733

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Properties: nonexistent
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	27	143
Reject	28	425

n: 623

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Well-being: hedonism/experientialism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	49	187
Reject	55	444

n: 735

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Knowledge claims: invariantism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	76	319
Reject	262	524

n: 1181

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Other minds: current AI systems
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	15	255
Reject	17	600

n: 887

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Morality: error theory
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	23	228
Reject	25	541

n: 817

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Well-being: desire satisfaction
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	70	167
Reject	86	414

n: 737

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Possible worlds: concrete
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	23	256
Reject	21	553

n: 853

p < 0.0001

r: -0.17	Hard problem of consciousness: yes
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	155	109
Reject	386	171

n: 821

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Perceptual experience: sense-datum theory
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	31	292
Reject	27	665

n: 1015

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Grounds of intentionality: interpretational
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	53	152
Reject	44	348

n: 597

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	Properties: immanent universals
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	28	142
Reject	129	326

n: 625

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	Other minds: newborn babies
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	229	41
Reject	549	68

n: 887

p < 0.0001

r: 0.16	Temporal ontology: eternalism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	90	83
Reject	179	249

n: 601

p < 0.0001

r: -0.15	Analytic-synthetic distinction: yes
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	262	187
Reject	656	269

n: 1374

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Consciousness: functionalism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	119	136
Reject	165	365

n: 785

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Gender categories: eliminate
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	56	195
Reject	76	448

n: 775

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Free will: compatibilism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	322	128
Reject	549	373

n: 1372

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Belief or credence: credence
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	82	115
Reject	130	308

n: 635

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Truth: epistemic
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	58	351
Reject	81	766

n: 1256

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Material composition: universalism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	49	73
Reject	97	234

n: 453

p: 0.0017

r: 0.15	Propositions: sets
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	34	170
Reject	29	420

n: 653

p: 0.0002

r: -0.14	Arguments for theism: cosmological
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	44	178
Reject	140	373

n: 735

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Consciousness: eliminativism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	24	231
Reject	16	513

n: 784

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Knowledge claims: contextualism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	271	124
Reject	421	368

n: 1184

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Personal identity: psychological view
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	227	144
Reject	363	417

n: 1151

p < 0.0001

r: -0.14	Grounds of intentionality: primitive
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	18	187
Reject	71	320

n: 596

p: 0.0005

r: 0.14	Footbridge: push
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	128	286
Reject	196	655

n: 1265

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Philosophical methods: empirical philosophy
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	326	137
Reject	544	358

n: 1365

p < 0.0001

r: -0.14	Immortality: yes
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	114	162
Reject	310	280

n: 866

p < 0.0001

r: -0.13	Properties: transcendent universals
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	19	151
Reject	127	329

n: 626

p: 0.0007

r: 0.13	Spacetime: relationism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	98	70
Reject	161	210

n: 539

p: 0.0021

r: -0.13	Belief or credence: belief
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	55	142
Reject	164	274

n: 635

p: 0.0015

r: 0.13	External world: idealism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	40	400
Reject	60	870

n: 1370

p < 0.0001

r: -0.13	Foundations of mathematics: structuralism
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	32	134
Reject	83	231

n: 480

p: 0.0059

r: -0.13	Method in political philosophy: ideal theory
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	55	133
Reject	153	252

n: 593

p: 0.0023

r: -0.12	Quantum mechanics: collapse
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	17	127
Reject	68	254

n: 466

p: 0.007

r: -0.12	Values in science: can be either
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	64	195
Reject	191	343

n: 793

p: 0.0004

r: -0.12	Quantum mechanics: hidden-variables
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	29	114
Reject	84	239

n: 466

p: 0.0073

r: 0.12	Teletransporter: survival
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	175	177
Reject	302	491

n: 1145

p < 0.0001

r: 0.12	Philosophical methods: experimental philosophy
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	180	283
Reject	276	626

n: 1365

p < 0.0001

r: -0.12	Gender: biological
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	126	281
Reject	290	524

n: 1221

p < 0.0001

r: 0.12	Cosmological fine-tuning: no fine-tuning
Laws of nature: Humean	Accept	Reject
Accept	66	141
Reject	93	375

n: 675

p: 0.0018

Strongest correlations with demographic questions (target population)

r: 0.3	Philosopher: Hume
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	121	249
Reject	71	629

n: 1070

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	Philosopher: Aristotle
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	46	324
Reject	161	539

n: 1070

p < 0.0001

r: -0.15	AOS: Philosophy of Religion
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	20	453
Reject	106	850

n: 1429

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Philosopher: Quine
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	53	317
Reject	43	657

n: 1070

p < 0.0001

r: -0.14	Gender: male
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	361	113
Reject	807	157

n: 1438

p < 0.0001

r: -0.14	AOS: Metaphysics
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	84	389
Reject	259	697

n: 1429

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Gender: female
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	110	364
Reject	153	811

n: 1438

p < 0.0001

r: 0.12	Philosopher: Lewis
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	55	315
Reject	53	647

n: 1070

p < 0.0001

r: -0.11	Philosopher: Russell
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	12	358
Reject	62	638

n: 1070

p: 0.0003

r: -0.11	Philosopher: Kant
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	33	337
Reject	119	581

n: 1070

p: 0.0004

r: -0.1	AOS: Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	5	468
Reject	36	920

n: 1429

p < 0.0001

r: -0.1	Philosopher: Plato
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	14	356
Reject	51	649

n: 1070

p: 0.0014

r: 0.09	AOS: Feminist Philosophy
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	28	445
Reject	33	923

n: 1429

p: 0.0004

r: -0.09	Philosopher: Descartes
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	7	363
Reject	38	662

n: 1070

p: 0.003

r: -0.08	Region of nationality: United States
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	210	238
Reject	496	412

n: 1356

p: 0.0028

r: 0.08	Region of PhD: Oceania
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	21	302
Reject	22	656

n: 1001

p: 0.0128

r: 0.08	Philosopher: Hobbes
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	8	362
Reject	6	694

n: 1070

p: 0.0113

r: -0.08	Region of PhD: United States
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	206	117
Reject	482	196

n: 1001

p: 0.0156

r: 0.08	Region of nationality: Europe
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	110	338
Reject	165	743

n: 1356

p: 0.0052

r: 0.07	AOS: Applied Ethics
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	70	403
Reject	107	849

n: 1429

p: 0.0053

r: -0.07	Philosopher: Anscombe
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	7	363
Reject	26	674

n: 1070

p: 0.0179

r: 0.07	Region of PhD: Canada
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	18	305
Reject	21	657

n: 1001

p: 0.0301

r: -0.07	AOS: Philosophy of Action
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	21	452
Reject	71	885

n: 1429

p: 0.0134

r: -0.06	Region of affiliation: United States
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	250	230
Reject	573	404

n: 1457

p: 0.0132

r: 0.06	Region of affiliation: Europe
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	91	389
Reject	138	839

n: 1457

p: 0.015

r: 0.06	AOS: Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	55	418
Reject	82	874

n: 1429

p: 0.0275

r: 0.06	AOS: Philosophy of Biology
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	27	446
Reject	31	925

n: 1429

p: 0.0303

r: 0.06	AOS: Philosophy of Gender, Race, and Sexuality
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	17	456
Reject	20	936

n: 1429

p: 0.0308

r: -0.05	AOS: Meta-Ethics
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	50	423
Reject	130	826

n: 1429

p: 0.0395

r: 0.05	AOS: Aesthetics
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	31	442
Reject	48	908

n: 1429

p: 0.0471

r: 0.05	AOS: Philosophy of Mathematics
Laws of nature: Humean	Yes	No
Accept	19	454
Reject	21	935

n: 1429

p: 0.0472