In This Dialogue Berkeley Defends His Belief That Only Ideas

question 8

True/False

In this dialogue Berkeley defends his belief that only ideas exist. "To be is to be perceived"-to be is to be an idea in a mind-and hence matter existing apart from the mind does not exist. In this dialogue Hylas (from the Greek word for "matter") debates with Philonous (from the Greek "love of mind"). The unique thing about Berkeley's idealism is that unlike traditional idealism (e.g., Plato's), it is not rationalistic. Berkeley does not propose that ideas exist independently but rather assumes an empirical foundation. He agrees with Locke that all ideas originate in sense experience and proceeds to show that all we ever experience are ideas. The only reality that exists to be known is perceivers and perceptions. To hold all of this ideal reality together one must posit a Divine mind that perceives us and hence causes our existence as ideas in the Divine's mind.
-Hylas declares that the view that there is no such thing as material substance is the most extravagant opinion ever.

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Definitions:

Coronoid Process

The coronoid process is a triangular structure on the upper anterior part of the ulna bone in the forearm that serves as a point of attachment for muscle.

Mandible

The lower jawbone, which is the largest and strongest bone of the face, involved in chewing movements.

Temporal

Related to the temples of the head or to time.

Maxilla

is a pair of bones forming the upper jaw and part of the orbits of the eyes, holding the upper teeth.