The Empiricists Berkeley Immaterialism Soazig Le Bihan University
The Empiricists: Berkeley Immaterialism Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1
Outline 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 2
Introduction Berkeley’s life: - 1685 – 1753 - Irish, Trinity College, Anglican priest, Travel (Europe and US), Bishop of Cloyne Main works: - The Principles and the Dialogues - De Motu, Theory of Vision Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 3
Introduction Berkeley’s philosophy The Dialogues: - Characters: Hylas and Philonous - Rules and advantages of dialogues in philosophy Berkeley’s philosophy - Religion - Against speculative philosophy and skepticism - Empiricism and Common Sense - Immaterialism and Idealism Berkeley’s paradoxical claim: Empiricism and common sense together lead to idealism! Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 4
Outline 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 5
Esse est percipi vs Representationalism Esse est percipi Berkeley’s argument: P 1 Ordinary objects exist, and only ordinary objects exist P 2 Ordinary objects = sensible things = what we perceive through the senses = combinations of sensible qualities CC: Only combinations of sensible qualities exist. The only way things exist is in so far as they are perceived. To be is to be perceived Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 6
Esse est percipi vs Representationalism The Representationalist’ objection Question about P 2: Do we perceive only combination of sensible qualities? Representationalism: - Direct perception of sensible qualities – mind dependent - Indirect perception of external objects – mind independent Core of the view: Distinction Primary vs Secondary qualities Not only sensations and ideas, but also external objects exist, as mind-independent beings. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 7
Outline 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 8
Against Representationalism 1 st Objection: Pleasure and Pain The objection: (cf. Locke!) P 1 Heat and Pain perceived at the same time, the same way P 2 Either both belong to external objects, or both exist only in the mind P 3: Pain does not belong to external objects CC: Heat does not belong to external objects Secondary qualities do not belong to external objects and exist within the mind only. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 9
Against Representationalism 2 nd Objection: Unobservable Causes The objection: P 1 Empiricism: all knowledge comes from experience, we cannot postulate the existence of unobservable entities P 2 Representationalism: postulates unobservable causes for our sensations -Example of the real sound that is never heard CC: Representationalism conflicts with empiricism One cannot be empiricist and representationnalist at the same time! Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 10
Against Representationalism 3 nd Objection: Relativity The objection: - Relativity of secondary qualities – taste – Which one is the true one? - Relativity of primary qualities – extension – Which one is the true one? CC: All qualities, primary and secondary are but sensations in our minds The distinction between primary and secondary qualities is undermined! Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 11
Against Representationalism Conclusion Berkeley has shown that: (1) Representationalism is conflicting with empiricism and common sense (2) The pillar of representationalism, i. e. the distinction between primary and secondary qualities, is problematic (3) Both primary and secondary qualities exist only in our minds Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 12
Outline 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 13
The Material Substance Hylas’ retreats Material substance: unknown, unobservable, unconceived (mind-independent) material substance Material substance: cause of our sensations Metaphysical postulation of a material, mind-independent substratum. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 14
An Unconceived Material Substance 1 st Objection: The “Master Argument” Hylas’ retreat: unknown, unobservable, unconceived (mindindependent) material substance The Master argument: We cannot conceive of an unconceived thing. Evaluating the Master argument: - Representans vs representatum - Empiricism The notion of an unconceived material substance conflicts with Empiricism Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 15
An Unconceived Material Substance 2 nd Objection: The “Likeness Argument” Hylas’ retreat: unknown, unobservable, unconceived (mindindependent) material substance The Likeness argument: P 1: Representationalism: ideas resemble things they represent P 2: Likeness Principle: Ideas cannot resemble anything but other ideas CC: The idea of an unconceived material substance is a contradictory notion The notion of an unconceived material substance conflicts with representationalism. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 16
The Material Substance as a Cause 1 st Objection: Matter cause of Thought? The objection: P 1 Matter = extended, solid, moveable, unthinking substance P 2 Thought = unextended, not solid, not moveable, thinking substance Causal process? Matter cannot cause thoughts Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 17
The Material Substance as a Cause 2 nd Objection: Can Matter cause anything? The objection: P 1 Matter = inert P 2 To be a cause takes to be active CC : inert matter cannot cause anything at all Contradictory notion of an inactive entity being the origin of causal processes. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 18
The Material Substance Conclusion Berkeley has shown that postulation the existence of a unknown material substance: (1) is conflicting with empiricism and common sense (2) leads to conceptual problems (3) does not have any explanatory power Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 19
Outline 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 20
Berkeley’s Immaterialism Conclusion Berkeley has argued against the existence of absolute, mindindependent beings: (1) Epistemology: representationalism (2) Metaphysics: material substance It remains to see how we can do without it! Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 21
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