Idealism PowerPointIdealism PowerPoint

What is Idealism???What is Idealism???

Some philosophers hold that if we push Some philosophers hold that if we push our investigation of matter far enough, we our investigation of matter far enough, we end up with only a mental world. Such end up with only a mental world. Such philosophers are called idealistsphilosophers are called idealistsIdealismIdealism- the belief that reality is - the belief that reality is essentially idea and mind rather than essentially idea and mind rather than mattermatterIdealism emphasizes the mental and Idealism emphasizes the mental and spiritual, NOT the materialspiritual, NOT the material

Idealist PhilosophersIdealist Philosophers

In the West, Idealism dates as far back as In the West, Idealism dates as far back as Pythagoras (600 BCE)Pythagoras (600 BCE)

Plato first formalized idealism through his Plato first formalized idealism through his “Theory of the Forms”“Theory of the Forms”

Idealist PhilosophersIdealist Philosophers

St. Augustine wrote St. Augustine wrote about a city of Godabout a city of God

He argued that what He argued that what is is realreal is the spiritual is the spiritual world; the flesh is only world; the flesh is only temporarytemporary

Jesus Christ is the Jesus Christ is the embodiment of all embodiment of all perfection, of all formsperfection, of all forms

George Berkeley, the IdealistGeorge Berkeley, the Idealist

Berkeley is the founder of modern Berkeley is the founder of modern Idealism. He reacted against Idealism. He reacted against materialist philosophers like materialist philosophers like Hobbes.Hobbes.

Berkeley claimed that only the Berkeley claimed that only the conscious minds and conscious minds and ideas/perceptions are realityideas/perceptions are reality

The world is not external to or The world is not external to or independent of the mind independent of the mind

The external world is a collection The external world is a collection of perceptions we mistakenly call of perceptions we mistakenly call physical realityphysical reality

Berkeley’s IdealismBerkeley’s IdealismBerkeley’s Idealism included Berkeley’s Idealism included two elements: objective and two elements: objective and subjectivesubjectiveSubjectiveSubjective- all we know are - all we know are our own ideasour own ideasObjectiveObjective- Independent of our - Independent of our perceptions; ideals exist in an perceptions; ideals exist in an objective stateobjective stateBerkeley said we find out Berkeley said we find out about things of the world about things of the world through experiencethrough experienceFor Berkeley, all the things we For Berkeley, all the things we perceive around us are nothing perceive around us are nothing more than bundles of our more than bundles of our perceptionsperceptions

Berkeley and PerceptionBerkeley and Perception

Berkeley argued: If we Berkeley argued: If we carefully examine the carefully examine the knowledge we have of knowledge we have of objects around us, we objects around us, we see that the only see that the only knowledge we have of knowledge we have of such objects consists of such objects consists of the perception/sensation the perception/sensation we have of them in our we have of them in our mindsminds

Example of Berkeley’s concept of Example of Berkeley’s concept of PerceptionPerception

Berkeley argued that all Berkeley argued that all objects are bundles of objects are bundles of perceptions perceptions For example, a certain color, For example, a certain color, taste, smell, figure and taste, smell, figure and consistency go together, and consistency go together, and are one distinct thing, given are one distinct thing, given by the name apple. by the name apple. Because perceptions can Because perceptions can exist only in a mind, all exist only in a mind, all objects exist only in the objects exist only in the mind, and there is no mind, and there is no independent material reality independent material reality outside the mind. outside the mind.

Berkeley on PerceptionBerkeley on PerceptionWe may think that in We may think that in addition to our addition to our perceptions, an external perceptions, an external world of material objects world of material objects existsexistsHowever, the only basis However, the only basis we have for these claims we have for these claims about the material world about the material world are perceptual are perceptual experiences, and these experiences, and these exist entirely in the mindexist entirely in the mindTherefore, the mind MUST Therefore, the mind MUST exist and reality consists exist and reality consists only of the mind and its only of the mind and its contentscontents

Berkeley and GodBerkeley and God

Berkeley thought that there are two different kinds of ideas in the Berkeley thought that there are two different kinds of ideas in the mindmind1) Short-lived, changeable, and within our control. 1) Short-lived, changeable, and within our control. 2) Other ideas are more enduring, and are not within our control. 2) Other ideas are more enduring, and are not within our control. For example, the landmarks around us, whether buildings or nature, For example, the landmarks around us, whether buildings or nature, which are not within our control. From where do the other ideas which are not within our control. From where do the other ideas derive their uniformity, and continuity if it is not from you. Berkeley derive their uniformity, and continuity if it is not from you. Berkeley thought that this could only be explained as the work of another thought that this could only be explained as the work of another supreme mind: the mind of God. He thought that God produced in supreme mind: the mind of God. He thought that God produced in our minds these orderly perceptions we call the external world, and our minds these orderly perceptions we call the external world, and it is God who produces this stability. This version of Berkeley’s it is God who produces this stability. This version of Berkeley’s idealism is objective idealism. It allows us to view the universe as idealism is objective idealism. It allows us to view the universe as an intelligent system because it is the product of a mind. an intelligent system because it is the product of a mind.

Eastern IdealismEastern Idealism

VasubanbhuVasubanbhu- similar to Berkeley, they believed - similar to Berkeley, they believed you could reach the truth through meditation you could reach the truth through meditation (Yogacarin)(Yogacarin)

VasubanbhuVasubanbhu- mind-only doctrine, which argued - mind-only doctrine, which argued that we do not directly perceive objects around that we do not directly perceive objects around us, we are actually perceiving the sensation in us, we are actually perceiving the sensation in our mindsour minds

ObjectionObjection- Why does everything seem to happen - Why does everything seem to happen in a specific position in space and at a specific in a specific position in space and at a specific point in time? point in time?

Eastern IdealismEastern Idealism

He pointed to what happens in dreamsHe pointed to what happens in dreams

So why can we tell our dreams are not the So why can we tell our dreams are not the real world? We wake up are realize it is real world? We wake up are realize it is notnot

Similarly, while we are in this illusionary Similarly, while we are in this illusionary dream world we think it is real but can dream world we think it is real but can awaken our minds through meditation and awaken our minds through meditation and ethical livingethical living

Objections to IdealismObjections to Idealism

Idealism assumes that the universe has an Idealism assumes that the universe has an order and a purpose…What about natural order and a purpose…What about natural disasters and tragedy? disasters and tragedy?

Fallacy of “anthropomorphism”-attributing Fallacy of “anthropomorphism”-attributing human qualities to non-human entities, human qualities to non-human entities, especially Godespecially God

Objections to IdealismObjections to Idealism

Subjective idealism-Subjective idealism- since perceptions are since perceptions are perceived and not objects, this doesn’t perceived and not objects, this doesn’t answer the question of what things are answer the question of what things are (rules out objective knowledge)(rules out objective knowledge)Objective idealism-Objective idealism- explains why explains why perceptible things persist in the mind and perceptible things persist in the mind and offers intelligible world systemoffers intelligible world systemWorld is intelligible because it is a product World is intelligible because it is a product of God’s mind, but how are we to know of God’s mind, but how are we to know God’s mind?God’s mind?

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