Berkeley’s God and solipsism

Authors

  • Vegitha Reddy
  • Aman Tripathi
  • Parameshwar Rama Bhat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv10n5-007

Keywords:

solipsism, god, argument, esse est percipi, beetle, language, thought experiment, inter-subjective

Abstract

In this paper I provide a meta-analysis of Berkeley’s argument of ‘esse est percipi.’ – to be is to be perceived. I also propose an alternative way Berkeley, could have solved the problem of solipsism without invoking God. I borrow from Wittgenstein’s use of language - to overcome the solipsism of the beetle thought experiment. Similarly, one could also think of escaping solipsist framework of Berkeley by invoking the notion of web of concepts.

References

BERKELEY, G. (1975). Philosophical Works; Including the Works on Vision. M. Ayers (ed.). London: Dent.

BERKELEY, G. (1944). Philosophical commentaries, generally called the Commonplace book [of] George Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne. A.A. Luce (ed.). London: Thomas Nelson and Sons.

KENNETH, P., ed. (2005). Cambridge Companion to Berkley. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

LOCKE, J. (1948). Essay Concerning Human Understanding. London: J. M. Dent.

RICHETTI, J. (1983). Philosophical Writing: Locke, Berkeley, Hume. Cambridge University Press.

WITTGENSTEIN, L. (1999). Philosophical Investigations. 2nd edn. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

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Published

2024-05-02

How to Cite

Reddy, V., Tripathi, A., & Bhat, P. R. (2024). Berkeley’s God and solipsism. Brazilian Journal of Development, 10(5), e69387. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv10n5-007

Issue

Section

Original Papers