Berkeley :: essays research papers

BerkeleyAs man progressed through the various stages of evolution, it is assumed that ata certain point he began to ponder the world rough him. Of course, these firstattempts fell short of being scholarly, probably consisting of a some grunts andsnorts at best. As time passed on, though, these ideas persisted and wereeventually tackled by the more intellectual, questionable philosophers. Thus,excavation of "the external world" began. As the authoritarinism of the ancientsgave way to the more extensive views of the modernists, two main positionsconcerning epistemology and the disposition of the world arose. The first view wasexemplified by the empiricists, who stated that all knowledge comes from the smell outs. In opposition, the rationalists maintained that knowledge comes rigorouslyfrom deduction, and that this knowledge is processed by certain innate schema inthe mind. Those that belonged to the empiricist school of thought developedquite separate and distinct ideas concerning the nature of the substratum ofsensible objects. John Locke and David Hume upheld the belief that sensiblethings were composed of fabric substance, the basic framework for thematerialist position. The main figure who believed that material substance didnot exist is George Berkeley. In truth, it is the immaterialist position thatseems the most transparent when placed down the stairs close scrutiny.The initial groundwork for Berkeleys position is the truism that thematerialist is a skeptic. In the writing of his three dialogues, Berkeleydevelops two characters Hylas (the materialist) and Philonous (Berkeleyhimself). Philonous draws upon one central supposition of the materialist to form his argument of skepticism against him this idea is that one cannever discern the real essence of anything. In short, the materialist feelsthat the information received through champion experience gives a translatorpicture of the outside world (the representative theory of perception), and onecan not penetrate to the true essece of an object. This makes logical sense, forthe only way to perceive this real essence would be to fit the object itselfAlthough the idea is logical, it does contain a certain grounding foragnosticism. permit the reader consider this if there is no way to actually sensethe true material essence of anything, and all knowledge in sensualism comesfrom the senses, then the real material essence can not be perceived andtherefore it can not be posited. This deserves careful consideration, for thematerialist has been self-proclaimed a skeptic If the believer in this theorywere asked if a mythical living creature such as a cyclops existed he would most sure enoughsay no. As part of his reply he magnate add that because it can not be sensed it