Bill Brewer
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199260256
- eISBN:
- 9780191725470
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199260256.003.0002
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Metaphysics/Epistemology
Berkeley's response to the Inconsistent Triad is to reject (I), the claim that physical objects are mind-independent. Three variants of this move are distinguished, between which it is argued that ...
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Berkeley's response to the Inconsistent Triad is to reject (I), the claim that physical objects are mind-independent. Three variants of this move are distinguished, between which it is argued that the differences are ultimately semantic rather than ontological. These positions are displayed as isomorphic in key respects to three more modern options available given Lewis' Humility Thesis. Reflection on the difficulties faced by all of these possibilities suggests a necessary condition upon any fully adequate defence of empirical realism. This is the condition that the explanatory grounds of our perceptual experience should be the direct objects of those very experiences.Less
Berkeley's response to the Inconsistent Triad is to reject (I), the claim that physical objects are mind-independent. Three variants of this move are distinguished, between which it is argued that the differences are ultimately semantic rather than ontological. These positions are displayed as isomorphic in key respects to three more modern options available given Lewis' Humility Thesis. Reflection on the difficulties faced by all of these possibilities suggests a necessary condition upon any fully adequate defence of empirical realism. This is the condition that the explanatory grounds of our perceptual experience should be the direct objects of those very experiences.
