General Philosophy 6.3 Abstraction and Idealism
Nov 30, 2010
Delve into the intriguing criticisms of the resemblance theory of perception. Discover how key philosophers like Locke, Berkeley, and Hume tackled the puzzle of primary and secondary qualities. The discussion highlights Berkeley's radical idealism, suggesting our perceptions create reality within our minds. Explore the tension between abstraction and the existence of an external world, questioning if anything exists beyond our ideas.
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Primary Qualities Depend on Mind
- Our ideas of primary qualities like shape are infused with secondary qualities like color, which exist only in minds.
- Thus, we cannot conceive of bodies independent of mind, leading to idealism that denies mind-independent external bodies.
Critique of Locke's Abstraction
- Locke's theory of abstraction is challenged by Berkeley and Hume as forming abstract ideas by omitting details is impossible.
- This critique supports the view that we cannot imagine objects without their specific qualities.
Idealism as Mental Entities Only
- If bodies independent of mind are inconceivable, then the world ultimately consists of mental entities: spirits and ideas.
- This reasoning leads to Barclay's famous idealism, though it seems counterintuitive to common sense.