1.2.3 Idealism

• What is the central claim of Idealism regarding reality?

  Reality is fundamentally mental
• Who is a key proponent of Idealism?

  George Berkeley
• Idealists argue that the mind and our ideas are the primary and fundamental aspects of reality
• Order the three contrasting epistemological theories from their focus on perception:

  1️⃣ Idealism: Perception is the primary source of knowledge.

  2️⃣ Empiricism: Sensory experience is the source of knowledge.

  3️⃣ Realism: Physical objects exist independently and are directly perceived.
• What is the core belief of Idealism regarding existence ("esse est percipi")?

  Existence depends on perception
• The phrase "esse est percipi" means "to be is to be perceived."
• Match the theory with its primary aspect and key proponent:

  Idealism ↔️ Primary source of knowledge; George Berkeley

  Empiricism ↔️ Sensory experience; John Locke

  Realism ↔️ Physical objects; Many Philosophers
• One strength of Idealism is that it explains subjective experience
• The principle "esse est percipi" means to be is to be perceived
• The principle "esse est percipi" leads to difficulties in explaining the existence of unperceived objects
• What is a key strength of Idealism in explaining subjective experience?

  Explains subjective experience effectively
• According to Idealism, what is the status of material objects?

  Mental constructs
• What does the Idealist phrase "esse est percipi" mean?

  To be is to be perceived
• Idealism posits that material objects have no independent existence outside of our minds.


  True
• Idealism faces challenges in explaining the independence of the physical world.

  True
• Empiricism focuses on sensory experience, while Idealism centers on the primacy of the mind
• Idealism posits that the physical world exists independently of our perception.

  False
• Idealism addresses the problem of objectivity by focusing on mental constructs.


  True
• One weakness of Idealism is its difficulty in explaining the independence of reality
• Idealism struggles to explain how the physical world can have an independent existence
• Idealism simplifies the understanding of reality by focusing on mental constructs.


  True
• One contemporary objection to Idealism is its difficulty in explaining the independence of reality
• Taken to its conclusion, Idealism may lead to the view that only one's own mind is sure to exist.
• Match each weakness of Idealism with its description:

  Lack of Empirical Support ↔️ Conflicts with the apparent independence of the physical world

  Esse Est Percipi ↔️ Challenges the existence of unperceived objects

  Solipsism ↔️ Undermines meaningful interactions with others
• One of the key tenets of Idealism is that existence depends on perception
• Match the epistemological theory with its primary aspect:

  Idealism ↔️ Mind and Ideas

  Realism ↔️ External Physical World

  Empiricism ↔️ Sensory Experience
• According to Idealism, what is the foundation of all knowledge?

  Perception
• What does Realism hold about the physical world?

  Exists independently of perception
• According to Idealism, material objects have an independent existence outside our perception.

  False
• What is the Empiricist view on the physical world?

  Exists independently, learned through senses
• Order the epistemological theories from most to least reliant on perception:

  1️⃣ Idealism

  2️⃣ Empiricism

  3️⃣ Realism
• What are the three philosophical doctrines with fundamentally different views on the nature of reality and the source of knowledge?

  Idealism, Realism, Empiricism
• Match the strengths and weaknesses of Idealism:

  Explains subjective experience effectively ↔️ Lacks empirical support

  Addresses the problem of objectivity ↔️ Difficulty in explaining the independence of reality

  Simplifies understanding of reality ↔️ Esse est percipi raises questions about unseen objects

  Integrates mind and world ↔️ May lead to Solipsism
• Solipsism, a conclusion of Idealism, suggests that only one's own mind is sure to exist.


  True
• Match the philosophical theory with its primary aspect, reality source, and key proponent:

  Idealism ↔️ Mind and Ideas ||| Mental Constructs ||| George Berkeley

  Realism ↔️ External Physical World ||| Physical Objects ||| Many Philosophers

  Empiricism ↔️ Sensory Experience ||| Sensory Input ||| John Locke
• Idealists believe that existence depends on perception
• Realism holds that the physical world exists independently of our perception
• Arrange the key principles of Idealism in a logical order:

  1️⃣ Existence depends on perception ("esse est percipi")

  2️⃣ Mind and ideas are foundational

  3️⃣ Material objects are merely mental constructs
• What does Empiricism consider as the primary source of knowledge?

  Sensory experience
• Match each epistemological theory with its primary aspect, source of reality, and key proponent:

  Idealism ↔️ Mind and Ideas, Mental Constructs, George Berkeley

  Realism ↔️ External Physical World, Physical Objects, Many Philosophers

  Empiricism ↔️ Sensory Experience, Sensory Input, John Locke