Single Idea 6733

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / c. Idealist time]

Full Idea

Whenever I attempt to frame a simple idea of time, abstracted from the succession of ideas in my mind, which flows uniformly and is participated in by all beings, I am lost and embrangled in inextricable difficulties.

Gist of Idea

I cannot imagine time apart from the flow of ideas in my mind

Source

George Berkeley (The Principles of Human Knowledge [1710], §98)

Book Reference

Berkeley,George: 'The Principles of Human Knowledge etc.', ed/tr. Warnock,G.J. [Fontana 1962], p.113


A Reaction

'Embrangled'! A nice statement of the idealist view of time, as entirely mental. I know what he means. However, surely he can manage to imagine a movement which continues when he shuts he eyes? Try blinking during a horse race.