Studied by 4 people
explain Berkley’s ‘master’ argument (5)
immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects
idealism- objects are just a bundle of ideas (bundle theory)
idealism= antirealist theory- rejcts the claim that objects exist outside of the mind. ‘to be is to be percieved’
this means that Berkely as an idealist believe that our objects are nothing more than our experience of them, objects only exist when percieved
challenged by critics who don’t agree with the claim that objects only exist mind-dependently by saying dont we just see that physical objects exist?
Berkley’s response- master argument
agrument that we cannot conceive of mind-independent objects as there is no such thing as mind-dependent objects; according to idealism
illustrated through story of Philonous and Hylas
Philonous asks Hylas to tjink of an object that is mind-independent
Hylas- thinking of a tree unpercieved by anyone
Philonous points out that this concept still involves his mind- he is imagining tree unpercived- still percieving it
contradictory to say we can think of a tree but not a tree that exists indepnedently of the mind
‘seeing an unseen thing’
cannot conceieve of an unpercieved tree as it will have no properties as properties are mind-dependent
summary- impossible to concieve- objects cannot exist unpercieved
one similarity between idealism and indirect realism
idealism- belief that immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects.
anti realist- rejects the claim that objects exist outside of the mind
direct theory as it argues that we directly percieve objects , as objects only amount to our ideas.
idealists- objects = a bundle of ideas, known as Bundle Theory
indirect realism- immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects that are caused by and represent mind-independent objects
realist theory- accepts claim that objects exist outside of the mind
what we percive are representations of the real physical object, caused by sense data
believe that sense data is caused by the veridcal objects so the sense data itself is subjective
our percption of the external world is mediated by sense data- which is mind-dependent perception
similarity= both believe we directly percieve mind-dependent objects.
idealism believes that the whole of our perception is mind-dependent, directly percieve mind-dependent objects (also known as ideas)
indirect realism- directly percieve mind-dependent objects ( as they believe we indirectly percieve mind-independent objects)
they believe that our direct perception is mind-dependent as waht we directly percieve is sense data - caused by physical objects
sense data explains perceptual variation as sense data is subjective as it is mind-dependent
outline idealism
idealism- belief that immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects.
anti realist- rejects the claim that objects exist outside of the mind
direct theory as it argues that we directly percieve objects , as objects only amount to our ideas.
idealists- objects = a bundle of ideas, known as Bundle Theory
what is solipsism
belief that only my mind exists.
no mind-independent physical objects and no other minds either
explain what an object is according to idealism
Berkely’s idealism- belief that the immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects
define idealism more broadly: anti realist, ‘to be is to be perceieved’, don’t believe our experienecs represent objects but they constitute them - why shoudl we believe something beyond them, direct theory percieve own ideas which are objects- just don’t exist outside outside the mind
bundle theory- idelaist theory stating objects are bundles of idea- only exist in the capacity of one’s mind
supprted primary and secondary quality distinction
primary and secondary qualities is a theory argued by Locke- however, Berkley argues against this - primary qualities are the part of the object that doesn’t need to be percieved to exist: chopped a phsyical object into small pieces= maintain all of its primary qualities (permanent and measurable)- shape, extensions and motion
secondary qualities- part of the object that need to be percievd to exist (changeable and subjective): colour and sound
Berkley’s argument against- wasn’t a distinction between primary and secondary qualities - as both primary and secomdary qualities can be mind-dependent
example- sahpe (primary) is relative to where you stand from different angles- shape won’t look the same - therefore, Berkley argues that primary and secondary qualities are both mind- dependent qualities. argued that we don’t percieve anything in addition to primary and secondary qualities
everything we percieve is either primary or secondary qualities - every obejct is mind-dependent as tehse qualities are mind-dependent
explain why idealism could lead to solipsism
1- define idealism
2- define solispsim
idealism can lead to solipsism because idealism suggest that experience gives us no reason to believe anything apart from our own individual experience exists.
if all we percieve is our own ideas, what reason suggest other minds exist?
how do i know minds exist at all as i don’t percieve minds?
only can be certain that i exist
Explain the two roles God plays in idealism
1- define idealism
idealism- belief that immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects.
anti realist- rejects the claim that objects exist outside of the mind
direct theory as it argues that we directly percieve objects , as objects only amount to our ideas.
idealists- objects = a bundle of ideas, known as Bundle Theory
2-
God as the cause of our ideas- Berkley argues that there is no mind-independent objects causing our experiences but there must be something causing our experiences.
role of God- argues that God is the one who causes our ideas and perceptions- our ideas first existed in the mind of God, and God implants these ideas in us- explaining consistency of ideas
3-
used to explain the continuity of objects
according to idealism- objects only exist when percieved- so if it is not being percieved= it ceases to exist
however, continuity of objects suggests otherwise- for example, a plant left unpercieved, once seen again appears to have grown
suggests that thngs continue to grow and develop and exist when not percieved- enter role of God
Berkley argues that God is the constant perciever
constantly percieves everything- explains the continuity of objects as nothing ever disappears as God is constantly percieving
we all seem to experienece the same ideas- because God plants them in us
what is scepticism? (3)
the view that our usual justifications for claiming our beliefs amount to knowledge are inadequate so they do not amount to knowledge
outline one problem with the role played by God in Berkley’s idealism
1- outline idealism and God’s role as the constant perciever
2- outline problem - Berkley uses God to answer these questions
wheether you believe theory or not it is based off of the assumption of God’s existence, when God is removed idealism becomes a subject of skepticism
materilaist view- see the use of God as a justification without solving the problem as its based on assumption
raises questions- why would God maintain concepts which cause us sufefreing despite being all-loving- maintaining war by a continuity to percieve it
if God was all loving surely he could put an end to wars by refusing to percieve them- this questions the cohnerency of his attributes
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Flashcard (21)