Single Idea 23636

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / a. Other minds]

Full Idea

I can find no principle in Berkeley's system, which affords me even probable ground to conclude that there are other intelligent beings, like myself.

Gist of Idea

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

Source

comment on George Berkeley (The Principles of Human Knowledge [1710]) by Thomas Reid - Essays on Intellectual Powers 2: Senses 10

Book Reference

Reid,Thomas: 'Inquiry and Essays', ed/tr. Beanblossom /K.Lehrer [Hackett 1983], p.175


A Reaction

I agree, which means that Berkeley's position seems to entail solipsism, unless God is the Cartesian deus ex machina who rescues him from this wall of ignorance.