Berkeley Flashcards
What is the philosophical maze
The problems one is entrapped in once you assume the existence of matter
What is materialism
The view that the physical world as it really is, exists independent of and is radically different to the physical world as we perceive it.
What do sceptics and materialists share
The view that the real world is distinct from our immediate senses
Why are the problems encountered by materialists and sceptics not philosophical
Because we cannot even conceive of a material world independent of thought, these are pseudo-problems (ones that cannot be solved due to fundamentally non-sensical concepts formulating them) not philosophical
What is Idealism?
Ordinary physical objects exist only as a collection of ideas in the minds of those who perceive them
Why does Berkeley’s view side with ordinary peoples view
It asserts what we see is real - our sense can be trusted, the real world is what we see
What is the important distinction about the real world
That although we see the real world for what it is, it is made up only of a collection of ideas
What does Berkeley attempt to show about matter
That it is either self-contradictory or meaningless
What do realists like Locke believe
Matter and objects composed of matter exists independent of our minds – an external unperceived world
What does Hylas say about cherries
“For a cherry to exist is one thing, and for a cherry to be perceived is another” – existence is not perceiver dependent
What do Hylas and Philonous initially agree on
What we immediately perceive is an idea - however Hylas believes these ideas represent the real world (Lockes R.R)
What are Primary qualities
Primary qualities, such as solidity, extension, mobility, shape etc. They are “utterly inseparable from every particle of matter”.
What are secondary qualities
Secondary qualities, such as colour, taste, sound etc. are not inherent properties to objects, but rather emerge as a result of the objects – they are the “powers to produce various sensations in us by their primary qualities”
What is substance theory
There is an underlying material substance (substratum) from which qualities arise
What does Berkeley wish to do for the Primary/Secondary thesis
Take it to its logical conclusion - primary qualities are the same as secondary - both change due to perspective, and thus both are simply sensible qualities
