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Subjective Idealism: Why is the idea that only minds and thoughts exist so fascinating?
Subjective idealism is a distinct view in philosophy that holds that only mind and thought exist, and was further developed by the Irish philosopher George Berkeley in the 18th century. This theory challenges the foundations of materialism, claiming that all of the material world is just a perceptual construct, and that the only legitimate source of perception of all existence is our thoughts and minds.
The essence of subjective idealism lies in that it not only denies the existence of matter, but also emphasizes that human perception and experience are the only reliable reference system of reality.
The appeal of this idea is that it makes us rethink the nature of what we call “reality”. Subjective idealism emphasizes how our perceptions shape our understanding of "the world" and thus explores the relationship between knowledge and reality.
The philosophical basis of subjective idealism
Subjective idealism is based on non-materialism, which claims that the existence of matter is no longer important because all knowledge comes from the process of the mind. George Berkeley’s famous quote, “To be is to be perceived,” succinctly summarizes this idea, meaning that things exist only when they are perceived.
In Berkeley's theory, the risk with the material world is that if its existence does not depend on the mind's perception, then we will have no way of knowing it.
This view is in sharp contrast to traditional materialism, which holds that the external material world exists objectively and independently of human perception. This opposition has undoubtedly led philosophers to continue to dialogue and debate in different centuries.
Historical context
Throughout history, many thinkers, such as Plato and Augustine, have predicted some form of idealism, but they did not completely turn to subjective thinking. Plato's allegory of the cave is a profound attempt to show how limited and subjective human perception of reality is. How can one understand true light when one is bound by shadows? This idea is also consistent with Berkeley's views to some extent.
In their discussion of the diversity of reality, Plato and his successors unintentionally paved the way for subjective idealism, emphasizing differences in perception and understanding.
Berkeley's influence was reiterated many times in the following centuries, including responses from thinkers such as Tante and Kant, which gave subjective idealism its enduring appeal in philosophy.
Criticism of Subjective Idealism
Although subjective idealism has its own unique views, it also faces strong criticism from other philosophical schools. Philosopher Bertrand Russell pointed out that Berkeley's theory was somewhat of a self-circular argument, while Stoff argued that the idea relied on a simple logical error.
“The gap between creativity in theory and reality in practice makes subjective idealism unable to continue to fully explain our experience.”
Nevertheless, subjective idealism provides an important perspective that challenges the way we understand the relationship between matter and mind and promotes reflection on perception.
Contemporary Reflections
Today, discussions of subjective idealism still exist at the intersection of science and philosophy. Many studies in psychology and cognitive science further support the discussion of "perception", showing how the structure of our thoughts affects our understanding of reality. In particular, many experiments in psychology, such as the famous "chimpanzee experiment", have revealed the limitations of perception, which makes people question whether what we call "reality" is really as reliable as our intuitive perception.
“Examining our perceptions, and pondering their origins and meaning, is essential to understanding the nature of existence.”
In this contemporary philosophical thinking, many questions remain to be answered: If the nature of reality is established in the mind, then how do we understand the external world that we share with others? This makes us deepen our interest in subjective idealism and think about its implications for our lives?
