Berkeley's Abstraction and Idealism

A look into Berkeley’s metaphysical theory and challenge to the notion of external objects. It is also about a theory of knowledge within classical Empiricism. Topics include the formation of ideas of a thing, its composition, what its name signifies and in what sense it is objectively real. Uses the Principles of Human Knowledge as the text to be considered, although the same ideas are also taken up in his Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonus. Intermediate level.

0:00 Empiricism
4:15 What cannot be abstracted
10:18 What words signify
17:08 Origin of doctrine of abstraction
20:42 Composition of entities
22:58 Idealism
29:27 Primary and secondary qualities
35:36 Origin of involuntary sensations
42:59 Criticism