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1 The Empiricists: Berkeley Immaterialism Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Slide 2 2Outline 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Slide 3 3IntroductionBerkeley Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Berkeleys 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 Slide 4 4Introduction Berkeleys philosophy Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana The Dialogues: - Characters: Hylas and Philonous - Rules and advantages of dialogues in philosophy Berkeleys philosophy - Religion - Against speculative philosophy and skepticism - Empiricism and Common Sense - Immaterialism and Idealism Slide 5 5Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Slide 6 6 Esse est percipi vs Representationalism Esse est percipi Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana The only way things exist is in so far as they are perceived. To be is to be perceived Berkeleys argument: P1 Ordinary objects exist, and only ordinary objects exist P2 Ordinary objects = sensible things = what we perceive through the senses = combinations of sensible qualities CC: Only combinations of sensible qualities exist. Slide 7 7 Esse est percipi vs Representationalism The Representationalist objection Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Not only sensations and ideas, but also external objects exist, as mind-independent beings. Question about P2: 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 Slide 8 8Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Slide 9 9 Against Representationalism 1 st Objection: Pleasure and Pain Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Secondary qualities do not belong to external objects and exist within the mind only. The objection: (cf. Locke!) P1 Heat and Pain perceived at the same time, the same way P2 Either both belong to external objects, or both exist only in the mind P3: Pain does not belong to external objects CC: Heat does not belong to external objects Slide 10 10 Against Representationalism 2 nd Objection: Unobservable Causes Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana One cannot be empiricist and representationnalist at the same time! The objection: P1 Empiricism: all knowledge comes from experience, we cannot postulate the existence of unobservable entities P2 Representationalism: postulates unobservable causes for our sensations -Example of the real sound that is never heard CC: Representationalism conflicts with empiricism Slide 11 11 Against Representationalism 3 nd Objection: Relativity Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana The distinction between primary and secondary qualities is undermined! 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 Slide 12 12 Against Representationalism Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 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 Slide 13 13Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Slide 14 14 The Material Substance Hylas retreats Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Metaphysical postulation of a material, mind-independent substratum. Material substance: unknown, unobservable, unconceived (mind-independent) material substance Material substance: cause of our sensations Slide 15 15 An Unconceived Material Substance 1 st Objection: The Master Argument Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana The notion of an unconceived material substance conflicts with Empiricism Hylas retreat: unknown, unobservable, unconceived (mind- independent) material substance The Master argument: We cannot conceive of an unconceived thing. Evaluating the Master argument: - Representans vs representatum - Empiricism Slide 16 16 An Unconceived Material Substance 2 nd Objection: The Likeness Argument Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana The notion of an unconceived material substance conflicts with representationalism. The Likeness argument: P1: Representationalism: ideas resemble the things they represent P2: Likeness Principle: Ideas cannot resemble anything but other ideas CC: The idea of an unconceived material substance is a contradictory notion Hylas retreat: unknown, unobservable, unconceived (mind- independent) material substance Slide 17 17 The Material Substance as a Cause 1 st Objection: Matter cause of Thought? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Matter cannot cause thoughts The objection: P1 Matter = extended, solid, moveable, unthinking substance P2 Thought = unextended, not solid, not moveable, thinking substance Causal process? Slide 18 18 The Material Substance as a Cause 2 nd Objection: Can Matter cause anything? Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Contradictory notion of an inactive entity being the origin of causal processes. The objection: P1 Matter = inert P2 To be a cause takes to be active CC : inert matter cannot cause anything at all Slide 19 19 The Material Substance Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 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 Slide 20 20Outline Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1. Introduction: Berkeley, The Dialogues 2. Esse est percipi vs. Representationalism 3. Against Representationalism 4. Against the material substance 5. Conclusion Slide 21 21 Berkeleys Immaterialism Conclusion Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana Berkeley has argued against the existence of absolute, mind- independent beings: (1)Epistemology: representationalism (2)Metaphysics: material substance It remains to see how we can do without it!