Idealism

Question 1

Idealism

Answer 1

The immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects

Question 2

In favour: Berkleys attack on primary and secondary distinction

Answer 2

• argued that size, shape and motion vary depending on perceptual conditions
• we have no reason to claim that the object has one real size, shape, motion, independently of how it’s perceived, we perceive ideas not the external world
• tepid water, freezing hand and hot hand both will state opposing sensations
• water cant be hot and cold at the same time?
• applies to all qualities, neither primary or secondary qualities can be said to resemble anything beyond a mind

Question 3

Berkleys Master Argument

Answer 3

• highlights everything that exists must be mind-dependent
• Philonous: try to think of an object that exists independently of being perceived
• Hylas: I’m thinking of a tree that is not being perceived by anything
• Philonous: impossible, you’re imagining a tree in a place with no one perceiving it 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
• we can’t perceive a MIO because as soon as we conceive of such an object it becomes MD

Question 4

Objection to Master Argument

Answer 4

• confused a thought with what a thought is about
• thoughts cant exist outside the mind, because thoughts are psychological states and need a mind
• there it is impossible that there is a thought of a tree when nobody is thinking of a tree
• therefore the objects of perception are entirely mind-dependent
• what a thought it about, is different from the thought itself
• just because my thinking of a tree is mind-dependent doesnt follow what I’m thinking about is also mind-depends

Question 5

Objection of God

Answer 5

P1. My perceptions and sensations are part of my mind, what i perceive and feel is in my mind, not Gods
P2. God cannot have the sorts of perceptual experiences I have. God doesn’t perceive as I do and doesnt undergo pain
P3. The ordinary of my perceptions change and go out of existence, but Gods mind is said to be enchanting and eternal
C1. Therefore what i feel and perceive is part of Gods mind

Question 6

Berkleys response to the objection of God

Answer 6

• we perceive a copy of the idea in Gods mind
• ideas of physical objects exist in God mind not as perceptions, but as part of Gods understanding
• God wills me to perceive

Question 7

Argument from illusion

Answer 7

• we perceive ideas
• physical objects are nothing but bundles of ideas
• pencil in water example

Question 8

Berkleys response to the argument from illusion

Answer 8

• persists than in an illusion we aren’t mis perceiving
• what we see is crooked
• mislead us into inferring that the pencil would feel crooked if we were to touch it

DISAGREE

Question 9

Berkleys response to hallucinations

Answer 9

• hallucinations are dim, irregular and confused whereas perceptions are not
• hallucinations are not coherently connected with the rest of our experience, whereas perceptions are

Question 10

Idealism leads to solipsism

Answer 10

• the view that only one mind exists
• if all I perceive are ideas, I might be said to have no reason to believe that other mind exist; after all i dont perceive them

Question 11

Leading to solipsism response

Answer 11

WEAK
- we know other people are mind because perceiver do mind things