BERKELEY AND IDEALISMBERKELEY AND IDEALISM

EMPIRICISM

GOD

SCEPTICISM

Strange to claim there isan external world; Inconceivable that mind independentmatter causes our experiences

Realism entails a gapBetween appearance and reality

Objects are families of ideas, so

there is no sceptical gap

God is required as the (only) source ofthe stable families of sense experienceswhich constitute objects

God creates a world in which we are notvictims of the sceptical gap

The Road to IdealismThe Road to Idealism

To be is to be To be is to be perceivedperceived..

Idealism is thesis that all our experiences are experiences Idealism is thesis that all our experiences are experiences of mental representations. of mental representations.

There is no world of material, physical objects as we There is no world of material, physical objects as we ordinarily think of them ‘out there’ in the world and which ordinarily think of them ‘out there’ in the world and which cause our beliefs, perceptions, feels and so on. cause our beliefs, perceptions, feels and so on.

Material objects are to be understood as families of Material objects are to be understood as families of experiences. experiences.

There exist no objects independent of the mind…There exist no objects independent of the mind…

……except God (according to Berkeley) except God (according to Berkeley)

Berkeley’s ReasoningBerkeley’s Reasoning George Berkeley (1685-1753) is committed to George Berkeley (1685-1753) is committed to

empiricism. empiricism.

Big problem with the primary – secondary Big problem with the primary – secondary property distinction.property distinction.

The qualities of an object taken all together seem The qualities of an object taken all together seem to be equally mind-dependent. to be equally mind-dependent.

It is only if physical objects are collections of It is only if physical objects are collections of ideas we experience in perception that we have ideas we experience in perception that we have any empirical evidence for their existence.any empirical evidence for their existence.

Radical re-thinking of what we mean by ‘physical Radical re-thinking of what we mean by ‘physical object’.object’.

……Principles of Human KnowledgePrinciples of Human Knowledge (1710) (1710)

If knowledge is grounded in If knowledge is grounded in experience (empiricism), then we experience (empiricism), then we have no perceptual experience which have no perceptual experience which grounds the claim that there exist grounds the claim that there exist mind-independent objects.mind-independent objects.

Why?Why?

What can we conclude from our experience of the world?What can we conclude from our experience of the world?

We immediately or directly perceive ideas (e.g. We immediately or directly perceive ideas (e.g. beliefs, memories, sensations). beliefs, memories, sensations).

Your experience is your perception of qualities or Your experience is your perception of qualities or properties. properties.

The vast majority of collections of sensory The vast majority of collections of sensory perceptions occur with regularity and stability. perceptions occur with regularity and stability.

They come to be named, ‘and so reputed to be They come to be named, ‘and so reputed to be one thing’, such as an apple or tree.one thing’, such as an apple or tree.

Furthermore…Furthermore…

There is something distinct from There is something distinct from what is perceived. This is the mind or what is perceived. This is the mind or soul or myself. (soul or myself. (PrinciplesPrinciples 2) 2)

andand One’s ideas (e.g. beliefs) cannot exist One’s ideas (e.g. beliefs) cannot exist

except in the mind perceiving them. except in the mind perceiving them. ((PrinciplesPrinciples 3) 3)

Arriving at Idealism…Arriving at Idealism…

It now follows that if objects are collections It now follows that if objects are collections of qualities and qualities are sensible of qualities and qualities are sensible ideas, then objects are sensible ideas.ideas, then objects are sensible ideas.

Their essence is to be perceived:Their essence is to be perceived: esse est esse est percipipercipi. .

Nor is it possible that they should have Nor is it possible that they should have any existence out of the minds that any existence out of the minds that perceive them. (perceive them. (PrinciplesPrinciples 3) 3)

Idealism is shocking.Idealism is shocking.

But no scope to allow objects a perception-independent But no scope to allow objects a perception-independent experience. experience.

Objects are combinations of perceptions. No perception can Objects are combinations of perceptions. No perception can exist unperceived. (exist unperceived. (PrinciplesPrinciples 4) 4)

The notion of mind-independent existence is a The notion of mind-independent existence is a contradiction.contradiction. ( (PrinciplesPrinciples 5) 5)

God is the source of orderly sets of sense experiences.God is the source of orderly sets of sense experiences.

God ensures that objects exist when unperceived by no-God ensures that objects exist when unperceived by no-one. (one. (PrinciplesPrinciples 6) 6)

The Master Argument (The Master Argument (Three Dialogues Three Dialogues 1713)1713)

Everything is mind-dependent because the Everything is mind-dependent because the very attempt to conceive of something very attempt to conceive of something mind-independent is impossible.mind-independent is impossible.

In conceiving of it, you involve your mind.In conceiving of it, you involve your mind.

Think of something…Think of something…

Problems with Idealism? Problems with Idealism?

Idealism is absurd. Samuel Johnson Idealism is absurd. Samuel Johnson kicked a nearby stone and said, ‘I refute kicked a nearby stone and said, ‘I refute it thus!’ it thus!’

But what does this establish?But what does this establish?

Kicking the stone establishes Idealism as Kicking the stone establishes Idealism as well as Realism. Visual stone well as Realism. Visual stone experiences are followed by tactile stone experiences are followed by tactile stone experiences. experiences.

It is expensive. It is expensive.

Instead of the world being the source of Instead of the world being the source of our experiences, we have to suppose God our experiences, we have to suppose God is. is.

How can I be sure God exists?How can I be sure God exists?

Wouldn’t God create a world in which the Wouldn’t God create a world in which the simple, commonsense answer (it’s the simple, commonsense answer (it’s the world causing my perceptions, Dummy!) is world causing my perceptions, Dummy!) is the right one? the right one?

How to explain dreams, error and illusion?How to explain dreams, error and illusion?

No problem – wild or random sequence of No problem – wild or random sequence of perceptual experiences in relation to well-perceptual experiences in relation to well-ordered experiences we associate with ordered experiences we associate with veridical perceptions. veridical perceptions.

Explain the sense in which a Explain the sense in which a misperception is false in terms of what one misperception is false in terms of what one can say about the object in ordinary can say about the object in ordinary circumstances.circumstances.

It is confused. It is confused. Master ArgumentMaster Argument runs together runs together two thoughts:two thoughts:

(1) You cannot conceive of anything without conceiving of (1) You cannot conceive of anything without conceiving of it.it.

(2) You cannot conceive of anything unconceived.(2) You cannot conceive of anything unconceived.

(1) is trivially true.(1) is trivially true.

(2) is false. (2) is false.

I can think of a world in which there are no minds. I can think of a world in which there are no minds. Just because I am thinking of it, I am not involved Just because I am thinking of it, I am not involved in it.in it.

It leads to solipsism. It leads to solipsism.

How can I be sure that there are How can I be sure that there are other minds if all I experience are other minds if all I experience are ideas?ideas?

Berkeley – Minds: Berkeley – Minds: esse est percipere esse est percipere (to be is to perceive). But, how can (to be is to perceive). But, how can one know there is more than one’s one know there is more than one’s own mind?own mind?