PERCEPTION- Idealism:Berekleys Master Argument

Question 1

What does the master argument aim to do

Answer 1

Show that the very idea of a mind-independent material object is contradictory and so impossible:
P1) try to conceive of a tree which exists independent of any mind
P2) in doing so the tree is being conceived by you
C) therefore the tree is in your mind and not independent of any mind after all

Question 2

Where can a criticism of this be found

Answer 2

In Russell’s problems in philosophy, chapter 4

Question 3

What was Russell’s criticism

Answer 3

Berkeley’s error is to confuse the mental act of conceiving a thing with the thing being conceived.
It’s true that my idea of a tree must be in my minds, but it doesn’t follow that what my idea is about must be in my mind

Question 4

What else does the master argument allow

Answer 4

It would show that I cannot make sense of anything outside my mind, therefore only my mind exists which leads to solipsism