Locke, Berkeley, & Empiricism: Crash Course Philosophy #6

      

In this episode of Crash Course Philosophy, Hank explores the concept of empiricism as a response to skepticism. The discussion revolves around the views of three prominent philosophers: René Descartes, John Locke, and George Berkeley. Descartes' rationalism is contrasted with Locke's empiricism, and Berkeley's radical interpretation of empiricism leads to a challenging proposition about the nature of reality.

Descartes and Rationalism

The episode begins by revisiting the ideas of 17th-century philosopher René Descartes. Descartes embraced rationalism, which held that the most real things in life were ideas that could be known through pure reason. He famously formulated the statement "Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am), using doubt as the foundation to rebuild his beliefs. Descartes believed in the existence of a thinking self and God, as well as the reliability of clear and distinct thoughts in understanding reality.

Locke and Empiricism

In contrast to Descartes, John Locke was an empiricist. He rejected the notion of innate ideas and argued that all knowledge is obtained through experience. Locke introduced the concept of primary and secondary qualities to explain how we perceive the external world. Primary qualities, such as solidity and extension, are intrinsic to objects, while secondary qualities, like color and taste, exist only in our minds and are subjective.

Berkeley's Challenge to Locke

George Berkeley, inspired by Locke's empiricism, took it to a radical extreme. He challenged the distinction between primary and secondary qualities, arguing that they are inseparable and exist only in the mind. According to Berkeley, there is no matter; instead, reality is a product of perceptions. He famously stated, "esse est percepi": to be is to be perceived. In his view, everything exists solely because it is perceived by a divine observer, God.

The Terrifying Implications

Berkeley's view raises unsettling implications. If everything depends on perception, then objects and even ourselves cease to exist when not being observed. God's constant perception is posited as the only force sustaining reality. However, this perspective challenges our fundamental belief in the physical world and is difficult for most to accept.

The episode concludes by highlighting the philosophical clash between rationalism and empiricism. Descartes' reliance on reason and ideas contrasts with Locke's emphasis on sense experience. Berkeley's extreme empiricism leads to the controversial notion that reality is purely a product of perception. While few are willing to fully embrace Berkeley's views, his challenge to traditional assumptions sparks intriguing philosophical debates.

In the next episode, the journey into the world of knowledge continues, and in episode 8, crash course will explore Karl Popper's attempt to reclaim the physical world for us. Empiricism, rationalism, and skepticism remain central themes in the ongoing quest to understand the nature of reality and truth.