Single Idea 3958

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 1. Perceptual Realism / a. Naïve realism]

Full Idea

As our ideas are perpetually varied, without any change in the supposed real things, it necessarily follows that they cannot all be true copies of them.

Clarification

'Ideas' here are perception experiences

Gist of Idea

Since our ideas vary when the real things are said to be unchanged, they cannot be true copies

Source

George Berkeley (Three Dialogues of Hylas and Philonous [1713], III p.239)

Book Reference

Berkeley,George: 'The Principles of Human Knowledge etc.', ed/tr. Warnock,G.J. [Fontana 1962], p.239


A Reaction

This seems a good objection to any direct or naïve realist view. Colours get darker as the sun goes down, and objects become blurred as they recede into the distance.