IDEALISM

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What is idealism?
Idealism is the belief that there is no external world independent of minds. We perceive ideas directly.
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What is the master argument?
A conversation takes place been too people, one asking the other to perceive an unperceived object, which he is lead to believe he is doing. This is not true as you are thinking of the idea of the tree not the actual unperceived tree.
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What conclusion does Berkeley take from this?
We cannot conceive of mind-independent objects because as soon as we are aware of them, they become mind-dependent.
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Can Berkeley be considered as a skepticist?
No. He refers to physical objects as being bundles of ideas not mind-independent objects. We are perceiving reality directly.
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What does God have to do with this theory?
Berkeley states that God is the thing causing these ideas for us. Only God is great enough to cause us this perception.
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What two problems arise in relation to the theory of idealism?
Solipsism and hallucinations/illusions.
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What is solipsism?
To be a solipsist, you believe that only one mind exists - your own.
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How is this relevant?
If you never perceive other minds, then all you perceive is ideas. This leaves the question, how do you know that there are other minds, then?
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What would an idealist say about the stick in water illusion?
They would say that the stick IS bent. This would be incorrect though, so they must say that the stick LOOKS bent.
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What about hallucination?
If "to be is to be perceived" is correct, then hallucinations may be just as real as ordinary perception.
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What question does this leave?
Why would God cause such perceptions?
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is the master argument?

Back

A conversation takes place been too people, one asking the other to perceive an unperceived object, which he is lead to believe he is doing. This is not true as you are thinking of the idea of the tree not the actual unperceived tree.

Card 3

Front

What conclusion does Berkeley take from this?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Can Berkeley be considered as a skepticist?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What does God have to do with this theory?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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