Ideas from 'The Principles of Human Knowledge' by George Berkeley [1710], by Theme Structure

[found in 'The Principles of Human Knowledge etc.' by Berkeley,George (ed/tr Warnock,G.J.) [Fontana 1962,-]].

green numbers give full details    |     back to texts     |     expand these ideas

---

3. Truth / C. Correspondence Truth / 3. Correspondence Truth critique

22309

An idea can only be like another idea

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 4. Abstract Existence

6717	Abstract ideas are impossible

7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism

18876

Berkeley does believe in trees, but is confused about what trees are [Cameron]

8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 1. Nominalism / b. Nominalism about universals

6715	Universals do not have single meaning, but attach to many different particulars

6719	No one will think of abstractions if they only have particular ideas

8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 2. Resemblance Nominalism

6714	Universals do not have any intrinsic properties, but only relations to particulars

9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / d. Substance defined

6729	Material substance is just general existence which can have properties

9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / e. Substance critique

16636

A die has no distinct subject, but is merely a name for its modes or accidents

11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 2. Phenomenalism

6722	Perception is existence for my table, but also possible perception, by me or a spirit

11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 3. Idealism / c. Empirical idealism

6723	The 'esse' of objects is 'percipi', and they can only exist in minds

6732	When I shut my eyes, the things I saw may still exist, but in another mind

6724	The only substance is spirit, or that which perceives

12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / e. Primary/secondary critique

6726	No one can, by abstraction, conceive extension and motion of bodies without sensible qualities

6728	Motion is in the mind, since swifter ideas produce an appearance of slower motion

6727	Figure and extension seem just as dependent on the observer as heat and cold

12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 3. Representation

6495	Berkeley's idealism resulted from fear of scepticism in representative realism [Robinson,H]

12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 1. Empiricism

6720	Knowledge is of ideas from senses, or ideas of the mind, or operations on sensations

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / a. Other minds

23636

Berkeley's idealism gives no grounds for believing in other minds [Reid]

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / c. Knowing other minds

6736	I know other minds by ideas which are referred by me to other agents, as their effects

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 7. Animal Minds

6713	If animals have ideas, and are not machines, they must have some reason

15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 4. Intentionality / b. Intentionality theories

6491	Berkeley replaced intentionality with an anti-abstractionist imagist theory of thought [Robinson,H]

15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 3. Abstraction by mind

6711	The mind creates abstract ideas by considering qualities separated from their objects

10581

I can only combine particulars in imagination; I can't create 'abstract' ideas

16. Persons / D. Continuity of the Self / 7. Self and Thinking

6721	Ideas are perceived by the mind, soul or self

19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 2. Meaning as Mental

6716	Language is presumably for communication, and names stand for ideas

19. Language / D. Propositions / 4. Mental Propositions

6718	I can't really go wrong if I stick to wordless thought

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 7. Later Matter Theories / a. Early Modern matter

6731	No one can explain how matter affects mind, so matter is redundant in philosophy

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / a. Constant conjunction

6730	We discover natural behaviour by observing settled laws of nature, not necessary connections

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory

15861

The laws of nature are mental regularities which we learn by experience

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / e. Anti scientific essentialism

6734	If properties and qualities arise from an inward essence, we will remain ignorant of nature

27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 1. Relativity / a. Special relativity

6735	All motion is relative, so a single body cannot move

27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / c. Idealist time

6733	I cannot imagine time apart from the flow of ideas in my mind

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / a. Problem of Evil

6737	Particular evils are really good when linked to the whole system of beings