BId Flashcards
Summarise ‘Berkeley’s Idealism’.
Berkeley’s Idealism is a theory in Epistemology that proposes that immediate objects of perception are ordinary objects which are mind-dependent.
State the main claims made by ‘Berkeley’s Idealism’.
(MAIN) Immediate objects of perception are ordinary objects which are mind-dependent.
1) Anti-Realism - All that exists are minds and their (mind dependent) ideas. Ordinary objects are nothing more than collections of ideas.
2) Ideas - We immediately perceive (mind dependent) ideas.
3) God exists as the cause of our ideas and of their coherence.
Define ‘Sensible Property’.
A sensible property is a property that we are able to sense.
State ‘Berkeley’s Idealism’ in standard form.
P1: We are directly/immediately aware of ordinary objects.
P2: The only things we are directly/immediately aware of are (collections of) ideas/sensations.
C1: Therefore, ordinary objects are (collections of) ideas/sensations.
P3: Ideas/sensations cannot exist unperceived.
C2: Therefore, ordinary objects cannot exist unperceived.
Summarise ’Berkeley’s attack on the primary/secondary property distinction’.
Berkeley’s attack on the primary/secondary property distinction
within Epistemology argues against Lockes Primary/Secondary quality distinction - saying that they are the same as they are both mind dependent.
State ‘Berkeley’s attack on the primary/secondary property distinction (variation)’ in standard form.
P1: If a property is subject to interpersonal and intrapersonal perceptual variation then that property is mind-dependent.
P2: Both Secondary” and Primary properties are subject to interpersonal and intrapersonal perceptual variation.
C: Therefore, both Secondary and Primary qualities are mind dependent, so there is no distinction.
State ‘Berkeley’s attack on the primary/secondary property distinction (conceivability)’ in standard form.
P1: An object with primary properties without any secondary properties is inconceivable.
P2: if such an object is inconceivable, then it is impossible.
P3: if it is impossible then both primary and secondary properties must both be essential properties of objects.
C1: Therefore, both primary and secondary properties must both be essential properties of objects, so there is no distinction.
C2: Therefore, they must both be In the mind.
Summarise ‘Berkeley’s Master argument (based on inconceivability)’.
Berkeley’s Master argument in Epistemology argues against realism, as its core concept of mind independent objects are impossible, as they cannot be conceived.
State ‘Berkeley’s Master argument (deductive)’ in standard form.
P1: Mind-independent objects are inconceivable because the moment you attempt to conceive of one, what you conceive of is in the mind and so is mind-dependent.
P2: If something is inconceivable, then it is impossible.
C1: Therefore, mind-independent objects are impossible.
C2: Therefore realism is impossible and so is false.
