Idealism Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is idealism according to Berkeley?
The theory that the immediate objects of perception are mind-dependent objects, with no mind-independent objects existing.
Idealism posits that objects such as tables and chairs only exist in relation to the mind perceiving them.
What does Berkeley argue about primary qualities?
He argues that primary qualities are also subject to perceptual variation, just like secondary qualities.
For example, the perception of size changes based on distance.
How does Berkeley challenge the distinction between primary and secondary qualities?
He claims that both are subject to perceptual variation and are therefore mind-dependent.
This contrasts with the view that primary qualities are measurable and unchanging.
What is the Master Argument in Berkeley’s philosophy?
It argues that one cannot conceive of an unperceived object, thereby suggesting that such objects cannot exist.
Hylas’s attempt to think of an unperceived tree illustrates this point.
What does Berkeley conclude about the existence of objects?
He concludes that there is no good reason to assume objects exist independently of perception.
His famous phrase ‘esse est percipi’ encapsulates this idea.
What does ‘esse est percipi’ mean?
‘To be is to be perceived (or to perceive)’.
This phrase emphasizes that existence is tied to perception.
True or False: Berkeley believes that all qualities of objects are mind-independent.
False.
Berkeley argues that all qualities, both primary and secondary, are mind-dependent.
Fill in the blank: Berkeley’s argument against realism is based on the idea that all perceptions are _______.
mind-dependent objects.
This challenges the existence of any objects that are independent of perception.
What is a counterargument to Berkeley’s Master Argument?
Many argue that Berkeley conflates ‘conceiving’ and ‘perceiving’, which are not the same.
This suggests that it is possible to conceive of an unperceived object.
What does Berkeley say about the relationship between perception and existence?
If something is not being perceived, then it cannot be said to exist.
This reinforces his idealist view that existence is contingent on perception.
