Single Idea 3948

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / c. Knowing other minds]

Full Idea

It is plain that other minds have an existence exterior to my mind, since I find them by experience to be independent of it.

Gist of Idea

Experience tells me that other minds exist independently from my own

Source

George Berkeley (Three Dialogues of Hylas and Philonous [1713], III p.220)

Book Reference

Berkeley,George: 'The Principles of Human Knowledge etc.', ed/tr. Warnock,G.J. [Fontana 1962], p.220


A Reaction

This is a surprising claim from Berkeley. If trees only exist through their experience in my mind, why don't other minds exist in the same way?