Berkeleys Idealism Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Berkeleys noble-mindedness In this essay I shall give the historical background to Berkeleys Idealism and then offer an channel for Idealism and suggest how an idealist could defend his theory against common objections and criticisms. Bishop George Berkeleys Idealism or Immaterialism is the theory that the physical world exists only in the experiences minds chip in of it. Berkeleys Idealism restricts minds to God, human beings, animals and whatever other spirits there may commonly thought to be, and says that everything else the intrinsically non-mental exists only as features of the experience of these minds. Although this would ab initio seem to be a bizarre view, if we look at the wisdom and philosophy of the seventeenth century, it arises quite naturally. The philosophy of the era derived from the new science of the period. Isaac northward was the prominent scientist of the age, and John Locke was the most notable philosopher in converting Newtonian science into a philoso phy. However, the age produced many other scientists and philosophers who were responsible for forming and popularising these new ideas e.g. Galileo and Descartes. The main theory of the day, with regard to physical science, was Atomism. Atomists believed that bodies are do from minute particles. Further, they believed that the particles and the bodies made from them, possess primary and not secondary properties. The most important exception from this viewpoint was that of Descartes. Although he rejected atomism, he did agree that bodies only rightfully possess primary qualities. Basically what this means is that bodies in themselves possess shape, size, doubtfulness and impenetrability but not colour, sound, taste, hardness or smell. This latter g... ...reference. It is logically impossible for anyone to check to see if the contrary is the case. So, although counter intuitive, Idealism is onerous to refute. Bibliography Audi, Robert (Ed). The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosoph y. Cambridge University Press.(1995). pp. 72-74. Ibid. pp. 355-356. Ibid. pp. 437-440 Berkeley, George. Principles of Human Knowledge & Three Dialogues. Oxford instauration Classics.(1999). Britannica.com. Idealism. Mautner, Thomas (Ed).Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy, Penguin Reference.(1996). pp.66-67. Morton, Adam. Philosophy in Practice An Introduction to the briny Questions. Blackwell.(1996). Chapter15 pp.426-429. Scruton, Roger. Modern Philosophy An Introduction and Survey. Mandarin.(1994). Chapter 3. pp. 23-25. Warburton, Nigel. Philosophy The Basics. Routledge.(1992). Chapter 4. pp. 103-107.