Idealism

What is idealism?

The view that there is no external world independent of minds (rejects both direct and indirect realism). The immediate objects of perception are mind

What does Berkeley's phrase "esse est percipi" mean?

"To be is to be perceived." This is the core claim of idealism: unless something is being perceived it doesn't exist.

Who is the most famous proponent of idealism?

Bishop George Berkeley

What are Berkeley's three main arguments for idealism?

(1) Attack on Locke's primary/secondary quality distinction (2) The master argument (3) The veil of perception problem for realism.

What does Berkeley claim about what our senses perceive?

Our senses only perceive qualities (colours/shapes/sounds/flavours etc.) and nothing in addition to these qualities. We never perceive anything beyond qualities.

Does Berkeley agree with Locke that secondary qualities are mind

dependent?

What is Berkeley's argument that primary qualities are also mind

dependent?

What is Berkeley's full argument from the primary/secondary quality distinction?

(1) When we perceive an object we don't perceive anything beyond its primary and secondary qualities. (2) So everything we perceive is either a primary or secondary quality. (3) Secondary qualities are mind-dependent. (4) Primary qualities are also mind-dependent. (5) Therefore everything we perceive is mind-dependent.

What is Berkeley's master argument?

We cannot even conceive of a mind -independent object because as soon as we conceive of such an object it becomes mind-dependent (we're thinking about it). Thus mind-independent objects are impossible.

How does the master argument dialogue work?

Philonous: Try to think of an object that exists independently of being perceived. Hylas: I'm thinking of a tree not being perceived by anyone. Philonous: But you're still thinking about the tree! You can think of the idea of a tree but not of a tree that exists independently of the mind.

What is a response to Berkeley's master argument?

Just because it's impossible to have an idea of a mind-independent object doesn't mean that mind-independent objects themselves are impossible. (Confusing epistemology with metaphysics.)

Why doesn't idealism have a veil of perception problem?

The veil of perception disappears when we realize that words like 'physical object' refer to ideas not mind-independent objects. By perceiving ideas we are perceiving reality. That's what reality is: ideas

What causes our perceptions according to Berkeley?

God. Berkeley rules out: (1) Ideas themselves (ideas don't cause anything) (2) My own mind (I can't control what I perceive). Therefore it must be (3) another mind. Given the complexity and order of perceptions this mind must be God.

What is Berkeley's argument for God as the cause of perceptions?

(1) Everything we perceive is mind-dependent. (2) Three possible causes: ideas/my own mind/another mind. (3) Can't be ideas (they don't cause anything). (4) Can't be my mind (I can't control what I perceive). (5) Therefore another mind. (6) Given complexity/variety/order this mind must be God.

How does God solve the problem of objects existing when unperceived?

Objects constantly exist in the mind of God. When you leave your office your desk still exists because God is still perceiving it. Objects don't cease to exist when you stop perceiving them.

How does God solve the problem of multiple people perceiving the same object?

We perceive copies of ideas that exist eternally in God's mind (when He wills us to perceive them). When you and I both look at a tree we're perceiving the same copy of God's idea so we're perceiving the same thing.

What is the pain problem for Berkeley's account of God?

Berkeley says God doesn't feel pain (He's perfect) but we often perceive pain. If our perception of pain is an idea in God's mind surely God must feel pain too? This contradicts God's perfection.

What is Berkeley's response to the pain problem?

Ideas like pain exist in God's understanding. God doesn't feel pain Himself but He understands what it is for us to feel pain. When we feel pain it's what God actively wills us to perceive.

What is the change problem for Berkeley's account of God?

Our perceptions constantly change from moment to moment but God is said to be unchanging. If our perceptions are ideas in God's mind and our perceptions are constantly changing surely God must change too.

What is solipsism?

The view that one's mind is the only thing that exists. Nothing exists beyond one's own experience.

How does idealism lead to solipsism?

Berkeley's argument that everything perceived is mind-dependent suggests no reason to believe anything exists beyond one's experience. If 'to be is to be perceived' why believe other people/objects exist when I'm not perceiving them (e.g. when I'm asleep)?

What is Berkeley's response to the solipsism objection?

God exists and He perceives everything even when I don't. So objects and other people continue to exist when I'm not perceiving them because God is perceiving them.

What is the illusion problem for idealism?

As a direct theory of perception idealism makes no distinction between appearance and reality. This makes it difficult to explain illusions. E.g. why does a pencil in water look crooked when it isn't? If we perceive it as crooked Berkeley has to say it is crooked.

What is Berkeley's response to the illusion problem?

If the pencil looks crooked it is crooked. We think it's an 'illusion' because it misleads us about future perceptions (we expect it to feel crooked too). But just because we make these mistakes doesn't mean the 'illusion' is any less real than perceiving the pencil as straight.

What is Berkeley's quote about the pencil illusion?

"He is not mistaken with regard to the ideas he actually perceives but in the inference he makes from his present perceptions." The crooked appearance is real; the mistake is expecting it to feel crooked too.

What is the hallucination problem for idealism?

If 'to be is to be perceived' are hallucinations just as real as ordinary perception? If I perceive a goblin on drugs is it really as real as a table or chair? Also why would God cause such perceptions?

What are the three main problems for idealism?

(1) Problems with the role of God (pain problem/change problem) (2) Solipsism (3) Illusion and hallucination.

How does Berkeley use the veil of perception against realism?

Berkeley asks: if realism is true how can we link up our perception with the objects behind it? We can't look past the veil of perception. This skeptical problem motivates rejecting realism entirely.

What is the key difference between idealism and both forms of realism?

Idealism denies the existence of a mind-independent objects exist; they just disagree on whether we perceive them directly or indirectly.

What does Berkeley mean when he says we only perceive qualities?

When we perceive an object we don't perceive anything in addition to its qualities. We perceive colours via vision/sounds via hearing/flavours via taste etc. but nothing beyond these qualities themselves.