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Berkley

Principal 34

-The world did not change when you learned that there is no Santa Clause
-The world will not change because there is no matter because there never was any matter and there
never will be any matter

Copleson
-a history of philosophy
-Frederick Copelson
-Because Berkley uses ideas to refer to objects of sense and because he does not deny subjects of sense
perception, all he gets rid of is locks material substance which cannot be perceived; therefore, it will not
be missed by ordinary man
-Berkley always talks about God – gets him into trouble

-God
-infinite, immutable, being per-se, ultimate ontological principal
-God must perceive all things
-Therefore there is a God
-Berkley simply accepted God on faith

John Locke

-see a tree with red barriers and grey bark


-only a representation
-real tree is out there in spooky substance called matter
-the head contains a representation that may or may not be real

-epistemological gulf

Berkley

-we look at the tree and we all see the same tree, and it is real
-we know it exists because it is a sensible object; therefore, it is an idea
-Moses mentions sun, stars, animals, sun
- Idea -immediate objects that are perceived by mind
-Genesis
-created sun, earth, moon, stars, animals, man, women
-birds a sensible objects
-if you remove all that is sensible, nothing is left
-bird is ssstt of a bird
-bird is an idea

-Berkley – “don’t get hung up on a word”


-apply “matter” to object of sense, but don’t allow them to be anything than perceived
-matter or material substance are terms introduced
-matter is dumb word for dumb idea dreamt up by john locke
-The problem with Berkley is God
-Uses God as a Dues ex Machina
-God in a machine; God in a basket
-Using God to get you out of trouble

-John Stuart Mills


-wrote an essay entitled “An Examination of Sir William Hamilton’s Philosophy”
-referred to things as permanent possibilities of sensation
-metal, rubber, glass, and fabric are made out of molecules
-molecules are made out of atoms
-an atom is a scientific metaphor for little sparks of energy
-one exists then it goes out of existence then it comes back into existence somewhere else
-When the car is in the garage for the winter, it is still there, but it is a permanent possibility of sensation
-can’t say it feels smooth if you’re not feeling it because tactile sensation is in mind
-We do not know what atoms are, illusions to possible occurrence
-I believe it is there but:
-not grey if no one is looking at it
-does not smell and taste like dust if someone is not smelling it or tasting it
-When you look at it, the permanent possibility of sensation will be transformed into a gargoyle

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