Berkeley's argument for idealism / Samuel C. Rickless.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rickless, Samuel Charles, 1964-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Berkeley, George, 1685-1753.

Berkeley, George.

Idealism.

Physical Description:

x, 207 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2013.

Summary:

Samuel C. Rickless presents a novel interpretation of the thought of George Berkeley. In 'A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge' (1710) and 'Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous' (1713), Berkeley argues for the astonishing view that physical objects (such as tables and chairs) are nothing but collections of ideas (idealism); that there is no such thing as material substance (immaterialism); that abstract ideas are impossible (anti-abstractionism); and that an idea can be like nothing but an idea (the likeness principle). It is a matter of great controversy what Berkeley's argument for idealism is and whether it succeeds. Most scholars believe that the argument is based on immaterialism, anti-abstractionism, or the likeness principle.

Contents:

1 Mediate and Immediate Perception 10

1 The Main Argument of the New Theory of Vision 11

2 How Not to Understand the Distinction 19

3 How to Understand the Distinction 42

2 The Perception of Sensible Objects 59

1 Are Sensible Objects Immediately Perceived? 59

2 An Ontological Solution 69

3 Can the Same Sensible Object be Perceived by Different Senses? 79

4 Can the Same Sensible Object be Perceived by Different Minds? 86

3 The Argument for Idealism in the Principles 91

1 The Semantic Argument 93

2 The Argument from Immaterialism and Inherence 97

3 The Argument from Anti-Abstractionism 104

4 The Argument from the Likeness Principle 115

5 The Two Simple Arguments 120

6 The Master Argument 127

4 The Argument for Idealism in the First Dialogue 138

1 Defending the Two Simple Arguments 139

2 Why All Things Perceived by Sense are Immediately Perceived 145

3 Why Sensible Qualities are Ideas 148

4.3.1 The Identification Argument 149

4.3.2 The Argument from Perceptual Relativity 165

4.3.3 Why Primary Qualities are Ideas 181

4 .4 Summary of the Argument for Idealism 185.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780199669424

0199669422

OCLC:

828413259