Single Idea 3930

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 3. Idealism / c. Empirical idealism]

Full Idea

That there is no such thing as what philosophers call 'material substance', I am seriously persuaded.

Gist of Idea

There is no such thing as 'material substance'

Source

George Berkeley (Three Dialogues of Hylas and Philonous [1713], I p.150)

Book Reference

Berkeley,George: 'The Principles of Human Knowledge etc.', ed/tr. Warnock,G.J. [Fontana 1962], p.150


A Reaction

I'm sorry, but I can't do with this. It confuses epistemology with ontology. Ontology is a matter of judgement; epistemology is the evidence on which we base it. We know sensations; personally I judge that there are material substances. What about you?