Major Figures: Philosophy of George Berkeley

Fall 09

Total = 24 points

I: True/False and Multiple Choice

1.       Berkeley wrote (A) Principles of Human Knowledge; (B) Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous; (C) Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision; (D) All of the above.

2.       Berkeley was consecrated Bishop in (A) 1559; (B) 1710; (C) 1734

3.       Immaterialism is the view that (A) there is no such thing as matter; (B) the term ‘matter’ is either self-contradictory or empty of meaning; (C) everyday items cannot exist unperceived; (D) A and B

4.       True/False: Berkeley distinguishes between philosophical materialism and vulgar materialism

5.       Berkeley’s ontology includes: (A) spirits; (B) ideas; (C) matter; (D) A and B; (E) A, B, C

6.       True/False: Berkeley’s project is to return the learned away from pointless speculation and to return them to the everyday practice of virtue.

7.       Skepticism, for Berkeley, includes: (A)the denial of the existence of sensible things; (B) the denigration of the senses;  (C) Lockean ignorance; (D) all of the above

8.       True/False: Deism is a view which takes aim at revealed religion

9.       True/False: Berkeley’s idealism involves the view that everyday items cannot exist unperceived.

II: Short Answer Questions (3 points each). Answer TWO of the following.

1.       What is Locke’s account of philosophical perplexity? What is Berkeley’s? What does Berkeley think about Locke’s solution?

2.       What are some of the ways in which the philosophical notion(s) of matter may have been leading to philosophical perplexity?

3.       Explain how the views of the new science may have been seen (by Berkeley) as an assault upon the common sense views about sensible qualities (e.g. color).

4.       Explain the notions of “Reflexivity of Thought” and “essential consciousness.”

III: Longer Answer Question (9 points). Answer ONE of the following.

1.       Explain Berkeley’s reasoning in the Master Argument. Explain one serious objection that one might have to the argument. Do you think the objection is successful? Why or why not?

2.       Bettcher argues that Berkeley departs from Locke and Descartes in his account of essential consciousness. How are the views different? How are they similar? How are Berkeley’s assumptions of consciousness and ontology relevant to his claim that spirits are substances upon which ideas depend for their existence? How might Berkeley’s views about essential conscious be relevant to the Master Argument?

BONUS QUESTION (3 points): Answer another short answer question.