Problem of Idealism from "summary" of The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
The Problem of Idealism arises from the difficulty of reconciling the existence of physical objects with the fact that they are dependent on perception. Idealists argue that physical objects only exist insofar as they are perceived, while realists believe that physical objects have an independent existence regardless of whether they are perceived or not. Idealists maintain that the existence of physical objects is dependent on perception because physical objects are nothing more than collections of sense-data. According to this view, physical objects only exist when they are being perceived because they are made up of sensory experiences. When we perceive an object, what we are actually perceiving are our own sense-data. Realists, on the other hand, argue that physical objects have an independent existence outside of our perception. They believe that physical objects have properties that exist independently of how we perceive them. For example, a tree continues to exist even when we are not looking at it because it has properties such as size, shape, and color that exist independently of our perception. The Problem of Idealism arises from the difficulty of explaining how physical objects can have an independent existence outside of our perception while also being dependent on perception. Idealists struggle to account for how physical objects can continue to exist when they are not being perceived if they are nothing more than collections of sense-data. Realists, on the other hand, face the challenge of explaining how our perceptions of physical objects accurately reflect their independent existence.- The Problem of Idealism raises important questions about the nature of physical objects and their relationship to perception. Idealists and realists offer competing explanations for the existence of physical objects, but both struggle to provide a satisfactory account that reconciles the dependence of physical objects on perception with their independent existence.
Similar Posts
The flow of time cannot be captured in a static model
The idea that time can be fully understood and represented through static models is a common misconception. Time is not a fixed...
Faith and reason are not mutually exclusive
In our quest to understand the universe and our place in it, we often find ourselves torn between two seemingly opposing ways o...
Change blindness can make significant alterations go unnoticed
Imagine this scenario: you are watching a magician perform a trick. He waves his hand and suddenly a coin disappears into thin ...
Every individual has the potential for greatness
The belief that every individual possesses the potential for greatness is a fundamental principle that resonates deeply with me...
Communication key
In a universe governed by entropy, where information tends to be lost or scrambled, communication is key. Information is the cu...
Themes of love and sacrifice emerge
Throughout the story, the powerful themes of love and sacrifice are at the forefront, driving the narrative forward and shaping...
Perception shapes reality
Our perception of reality is not a direct reflection of the world around us. Instead, our brains construct reality based on the...
Integrity is disposable
The idea that integrity is disposable is embedded in the very fabric of modern politics. It is a notion that has been embraced ...
Discovery
The road unfurls before us like a ribbon, twisting and turning through the vast expanse of South America. As we navigate its tw...
Universe's beginning linked to time's emergence
According to modern physics, the big bang was not just the birth of the universe, but also the birth of time. Before the big ba...