more from George Berkeley

Single Idea 5174

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 2. Phenomenalism]

Full Idea

The considerations which make it necessary, as Berkeley saw, to give a phenomenalist account of material things, make it necessary also, as Berkeley did not see, to give a phenomenalist account of the self.

Clarification

'Phenomenalist' means 'in terms purely of experiences'

Gist of Idea

Berkeley needed a phenomenalist account of the self, as well as of material things

Source

comment on George Berkeley (Three Dialogues of Hylas and Philonous [1713]) by A.J. Ayer - Language,Truth and Logic Ch.7

Book Reference

Ayer,A.J.: 'Language, Truth and Logic' [Penguin 1974], p.167


A Reaction

Phenomenalism involves 'possible' experiences as well as actual ones. That could add up to quite a rich and stable account of the self, as opposed to Hume's notorious introspection, which only saw an actual shifting 'bundle' of experience.