Core beliefs
This philosopher argued that material objects do not exist independently of the mind.
Who is George Berkeley?
For Berkeley, all knowledge comes from these mental contents.
What are ideas?
This empiricist philosopher influenced Berkeley but still believed in material substance.
Who is John Locke?
Berkeley’s philosophy is best described by this term, meaning only minds and ideas exist.
What is idealism/immaterialism
Berkeley rejected the distinction between primary and secondary qualities made by this philosopher.
Who is John Locke?
Berkeley agreed with empiricists that knowledge comes from experience but rejected this assumption.
What is the existence of material substance?
Berkeley denied the existence of this concept, claiming we never perceive it directly.
What is matter?
Berkeley claimed that even so-called “_____ qualities” like shape and motion depend on perception.
What are primary qualities?
This common question challenges Berkeley by asking whether a tree exists when no one is around.
What is “If a tree falls in the forest…”?
Berkeley believed that ___ ensures the continued existence of objects when humans are not perceiving them.
Who is God?
This Latin phrase summarizes Berkeley’s theory of existence.
What is esse est percipi?
Berkeley’s views are often contrasted with this philosopher’s skepticism about causation.
Who is David Hume?
According to Berkeley, objects only exist when they are being perceived by a mind.
What is “to be is to be perceived”?
Berkeley argued we only ever perceive qualities like color, shape, and sound, never the object itself. These qualities are called this.
What are sensible qualities?
Berkeley and this philosopher both advance forms of idealism that reject a completely mind-independent material world.
Who is Kant?