Berkeley's idealism is actually very informative. He demonstrates that "matter" refers to nothing other than an idea; — Metaphysician Undercover
His argument could be better paraphrased as ‘all our knowledge of the world comprises ideas’ - that what we take to be independently existing objects are in actual fact ideas in the (not necessarily my) mind. — Wayfarer
Speak true, brother.
To be is to be perceived. — Nils Loc
What is this awareness you speak of? Have you seen it? Sounds like an idea to me. — Nils Loc
You seem to not have read my post. No, I've never seen it. I'm venturing that nether have you — javra
If so, the cure is then to abstain from philosophy. — javra
Again, the simple confusion of knowledge and what knowledge is about. — Terrapin Station
I have yet to see from you anything other than naive realism. — Wayfarer
After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, 'I refute it thus.'
"Reasoning concerning causal interactions, however, can lead to an understanding of the physical world as a realm of causal interactions with which we all interact."
Maybe I misunderstand you, but I fail to see how this is harmful. — kudos
Where Berkeley fails, in my opinion, is due to his nominalism. Because of it, he can’t accommodate the fact that certain classes of ideas, such as logical and mathematical proofs, have universal application. This is the subject of C. S. Peirce’s criticism of Berkeley, which I intend to study. — Wayfarer
I have yet to see from you anything other than naive realism. — Wayfarer
Did you read Berkeley's "Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonus"? — Metaphysician Undercover
If so, it appears like you didn't understand it — Metaphysician Undercover
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.