Esse est Percipi - ('To be is to be perceived')

Summary

In this video, the concept of immaterialism is explored through the ideas of philosopher George Berkeley. Berkeley argues that matter doesn't exist independently of perception; rather, all that exists are ideas and the perceiving minds. This challenges the traditional view of physical objects existing outside of our perception. The famous anecdote of Dr. Johnson kicking a stone to refute Berkeley’s view is discussed, highlighting the distinction between sensory experiences and material reality. Berkeley, a devout Christian, believed that God perceives everything, ensuring the continued existence of objects even when no one is around to see them.

Takeaways

• 😀 George Berkeley argued for immaterialism, the idea that there is no such thing as matter.
• 😀 According to Berkeley, what we call matter is actually just sensory experience, including the experiences of seeing, touching, and even stubbing a toe.
• 😀 Bishop Berkeley's view challenges the belief that material objects exist independently of perception.
• 😀 Dr. Johnson famously refuted Berkeley by kicking a stone, claiming 'I refute him thus', but Berkeley would have expected the stone to cause pain when kicked, which supports his idea of sensory experience.
• 😀 Berkeley proposed that to 'be' is to 'be perceived', meaning things only exist because they are experienced.
• 😀 Berkeley used the Latin phrase 'Esse est percipi', meaning 'to be is to be perceived', to explain his philosophy.
• 😀 The idea of a tree falling in an empty forest without anyone to hear or see it raises the question of its existence, according to Berkeley.
• 😀 Berkeley believed that God perceives everything, so everything continues to exist even when no human is perceiving it.
• 😀 The continuous perception of God ensures that all things persist, even when unobserved by humans.
• 😀 Berkeley's immaterialism suggests that reality does not depend on human observation but on divine perception.

Q & A

What is George Berkeley's position on the existence of matter?

George Berkeley argued for immaterialism, the view that matter does not exist. Instead, all that exists in the world are ideas and perceiving minds.

How did Dr. Johnson react to Berkeley's immaterialism?

Dr. Johnson famously refuted Berkeley's immaterialism by kicking a stone and declaring, 'I refute him thus.' His reaction was based on the belief that physical objects, like stones, exist independently of perception.

What did Berkeley mean when he said 'to be is to be perceived'?

Berkeley's phrase 'to be is to be perceived' (or 'esse est percipi' in Latin) means that objects do not exist independently of perception. Their existence is tied to being perceived by minds.

What is the significance of the tree falling in the forest example in Berkeley's philosophy?

In Berkeley's view, even if a tree falls in a forest with no one there to perceive it, the tree still exists because God perceives everything. God ensures the continued existence of all things, even when no human is present to observe them.

How does Berkeley explain the persistence of objects when we are not looking at them?

Berkeley believed that objects continue to exist when we are not looking at them because they are constantly perceived by God, who is always watching and ensuring their existence.

Why does Berkeley's view of immaterialism seem absurd to some people?

Berkeley's immaterialism seems absurd to many because it challenges the common belief that material objects exist independently of our perception. Most people assume that objects exist whether or not they are being perceived.

What role does sensory experience play in Berkeley's philosophy?

In Berkeley's philosophy, sensory experience is central. He argued that what we call 'matter' is actually just sensory experiences, like sight, touch, and sound, which exist in the mind and are not independent of perception.

What did Berkeley think about the nature of objects like stones or trees?

Berkeley believed that objects like stones and trees do not exist as independent material things. Instead, they are collections of sensory experiences that exist only in the minds of those who perceive them.

How does God fit into Berkeley's philosophy of immaterialism?

For Berkeley, God plays a crucial role in his philosophy of immaterialism. He believed that God perceives everything, ensuring the continuous existence of objects even when humans are not there to perceive them.

How would Berkeley respond to Dr. Johnson’s action of kicking a stone?

Berkeley would acknowledge that Dr. Johnson's toe would indeed hurt from kicking the stone, but he would argue that the stone itself is not a material object. Instead, it is part of a sensory experience that exists in the mind of the perceiver.