Question

George Berkeley, in his Principles of Human Knowledge, reflects on the nature of thought and attacks abstract ideas. Which among the following hold true to his view?

• A. There cannot be an idea of anything essentially independent of mind.
• B. One cannot conceive of the unperceived.
• C. Any idea is essentially independent of mind.
• D. One can conceive of the unperceived.

Hint:

Berkeley’s critique of abstract ideas challenges the notion of mind-independent existence

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B

Step 1: Berkeley’s central thesis.
George Berkeley famously argues that existence is dependent on perceptionHis principle esse est percipi means “to be is to be perceived”
Step 2: Evaluating option (A).
Berkeley denies the possibility of ideas existing independently of a perceiving mindThus, option (A) directly reflects his position
Step 3: Evaluating option (B).
According to Berkeley, it is impossible to conceive of something that is entirely unperceived, since conceiving itself is a form of perceptionTherefore, option (B) is also correct
Step 4: Eliminating incorrect options.
Options (C) and (D) contradict Berkeley’s idealism, as they assume the independence of ideas from perception
Step 5: Final conclusion.
The statements that correctly represent Berkeley’s view are (A) and (B)