Epistemology: Percption-02. Berkeley's Argument for God Flashcards
What is the Master Argument in Berkeley’s philosophy?
An argument for Idealism suggesting that because it is impossible to imagine an object as unperceived, only perceptions and their ideas exist.
The Master Argument underscores Berkeley’s claim that objects cannot exist without being perceived.
What is the aim of Berkeley’s Argument for God?
To understand the problems of Idealism without God and why Idealism supports the existence of God rather than God solving Idealism.
This approach emphasizes Berkeley’s Idealism as a coherent philosophical stance.
What does Berkeley argue about the separate existence of matter?
The concept of matter is redundant; it may be simpler to assume that only ideas exist.
Berkeley’s view challenges the notion of material objects existing independently from perception.
How does Berkeley position himself against indirect realism?
By undermining the belief in material objects existing independently of our perception.
This reinforces his Idealist stance that reality is shaped by perception.
What is Berkeley’s view on causation?
Our understanding of causality is based entirely on our experience of our own volitions; there is no ‘physical cause’.
Berkeley asserts that only volitional causes, stemming from the will, exist.
What concerns arise from Berkeley’s idea that objects exist only when perceived?
If objects cease to exist when unperceived, why do they change and how do perceptions remain consistent?
This raises questions about the nature of reality in Berkeley’s framework.
How does Berkeley resolve the concern of objects ceasing to exist when unperceived?
He argues that the world is always perceived by God, ensuring it never ceases to exist.
This positions God as the constant perceiver that sustains reality.
What is the syllogism Berkeley uses to argue for the existence of God?
P1: All that exists are minds and the ideas perceived by those minds.
P2: Ideas cannot exist on their own; they must be perceived by a mind.
P3: Ideas must be caused by our own minds or another mind.
P4: Human minds cannot create all ideas perceived.
C1: There must be a mind that perceives and sustains all ideas not produced by humans.
This logical structure underpins Berkeley’s argument for God’s existence.
What attributes does Berkeley suggest about the nature of God?
- The most powerful thing imaginable
- Actively involved with the world
- The sustaining cause of the world
- Immaterial (just a mind)
- The reason for experiences
- Knows everything happening and that has happened.
These attributes reflect Berkeley’s view of God as central to his Idealist philosophy.
What historical context does the idea of corpuscles belong to?
Early modern philosophy and science, particularly associated with thinkers like Descartes, Gassendi, and Boyle.
Corpuscles were part of the shift from Aristotelian concepts of matter to more mechanistic models.
What properties were attributed to corpuscles?
- Size
- Shape
- Motion
These properties combined to explain the different substances we observe.
How did the concept of corpuscles influence Berkeley’s Idealism?
It allowed for a serious consideration of Idealism because it aligned with the notion of ‘invisible corpuscles’ adapting to perception.
This connection facilitated a philosophical dialogue on the nature of reality.
Fill in the blank: The sweetness experienced from sugar is a result of how its ______ interact with taste buds.
corpuscles
This illustrates the corpuscular theory’s impact on understanding sensory perception.
How did the idea of corpuscles contribute to the transition in understanding matter?
It was a crucial stepping stone from medieval views of matter to modern physics and chemistry.
The evolution from corpuscles to atomic theory marked a significant shift in scientific thought.
