Final answer:
David Hume and David Hartley formalized the theory of Associationism, which details the mental process where ideas form complex thoughts through associative links.
Step-by-step explanation:
David Hume and David Hartley formalized the theory of Associationism, a philosophical and psychological theory that explains how ideas combine and associate in the mind.
Hume's skeptical approach and emphasis on empiricism posited that our ideas and knowledge stem from sensory experiences, and through association, these experiences become linked to form more complex thoughts and understandings.
Hartley expanded on Hume's ideas with his own work, further developing the notion that mental processes are combinations of sensations.
Both Hume and Hartley made significant contributions to the understanding of human cognition and how our thoughts and behaviors are influenced by the connections we make between our experiences.
Additionally, Hume's work in morality and ethics brought forward the idea that moral judgments are based on sentiment rather than fact, a perspective that challenged the notion of morality being derivable from objective facts.
By separating moral sentiment from factual reasoning, Hume laid the groundwork for modern ethical philosophy. This division between 'is' and 'ought' became a foundational element in the field of ethics, influencing later philosophers and their approach to moral philosophy.