Description
Book SynopsisSamuel C. Rickless presents a novel interpretation of the thought of George Berkeley. In A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710) and Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous (1713), Berkeley argues for the astonishing view that physical objects (such as tables and chairs) are nothing but collections of ideas (idealism); that there is no such thing as material substance (immaterialism); that abstract ideas are impossible (anti-abstractionism); and that an idea can be like nothing but an idea (the likeness principle). It is a matter of great controversy what Berkeley''s argument for idealism is and whether it succeeds. Most scholars believe that the argument is based on immaterialism, anti-abstractionism, or the likeness principle. In Berkeley''s Argument for Idealism, Rickless argues that Berkeley distinguishes between two kinds of abstraction, ''singling'' abstraction and ''generalizing'' abstraction; that his argument for idealism depends on the impossibility
Trade ReviewSamuel C. Rickless Berkeleys Argument for Idealism is an excellent book. It is clearly written, tightly focused, and rigorously argued ... a must-read for historians of early modern philosophy ... I am confident that it will shape this debate for many years to come. * Robert Watt, European Journal of Philosophy *
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Mediate and immediate perception 2: The perception of sensible objects 3: The argument for idealism in the Principles 4: The argument for idealism in the first Dialogue Conclusion Bibliography Index
