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Philosophy 2017 doubts,discussions and answer writing

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  • bro can v here solve 10 yrs previous papers
    if not writing a full answer we can also form stucture only
    good to see people chiping in..i had started a thread on similar lines but that was not successful...will put my answers here...please contribute with ur valuable suggestions..lets move ths thread till mains..
    but as mentioned by rocky bhai...regular articles on various topics should also be there alongwith solving papers

  • Write a short note on esse est percipi.(150 words,10 marks,2015)
    Ans-Concept of esse est percipi was given by Berkeley.It means that to be is to be perceived. Berkeley believed that nothing can exist independent of our mind.Esse est percipi is necessary condition for something to be real as per him. In his 'Three dialogues' through the mouthpiece of Philonous he conveys the idea that there exists no material substance as it is made up of primary and secondary qualities. But neither primary qualities like extension, solidity,dimension etc nor secondary qualities like color,taste ,heat etc have independent existence. The common argument that he takes to refute the qualities is that they are perceived differently by different people. Had there existence been independent of mind, they would have appeared same to all. Even abstract ideas have been refuted by him.
    However he faulted when in order to avoid solipsism he proposed that things exist even when they are not perceived by us as they are the thoughts in God's mind. Also, Philosophers like Moore have made the distinction between things in themselves and things as perceived by us. Things existing in themselves have independent existence. Samuel Johnson criticizes Berkeley by giving an analogy. I kicked a stone and I got bruises which does not involve mind. Lastly Perry criticized him for committing the fallacy of exclusive particularity.
    Though there are problems in Berkeley's esse est percipi but he can be said to be a 'Locke made consistent' by proposing such theory and defending it appropriately.

  • Evaluate critically Hume's criticism of causation.(2014,15 marks)
    Ans-According to principle of causation, every effect must have a cause. Both Indian and Western philosophers in this principle.But Hume criticizes the principle. His criticism can be traced out as follows:
    1.No quality of those things which we call 'causes' can be origin of things as there is no common quality in them.
    2.There is no impression which proves causality.
    His understanding of causality-doesnt reject causation but its understanding empirically. As per him causation is the relation in the way we experience three relations:
    1.Contiguity-causes and effects must be immediately contiguous. Essential for causal relation.
    Critique-He didn't commit to this principle in third part of 'Treatise' where he says that till we find more proper occasion we should accept is as essential.
    2.Temporal priority-Cause must be temporally prior to effect for succession.
    3.Necessary connection-From which impression, idea of necessary connection is derived. so not necessary for him.
    here he asks two important question:
    a)For what we reason we pronounce that such particular causes must necessarily have such causes?Criticizes Locke,Clarke and Hobbes.
    b)Why do we necessarily conclude that such particular causes must have such particular effects?
    For him,On the basis of past experiences and on our remembrance of constant conjunction, we make transition to necessary connection.
    Thus idea of causation,according to him,has two elements-a)human nature in the form of imagination and principle of association.
    b)Past experience of constant conjunction which later develops into feeling and beliefs.
    Critique-
    1.Kant-perhaps what is important is to inquire why two events are in contiguity?so there is unique or epistemic necessity.
    2.Copleston-Hume's critique of Locke,and Hobbes etc beg the question by presupposing the very validity of principle(anything which begins to exist must have a cause) which they want to demonstrate.
    3.Rejecting even causality may put him in category of sceptics no matter he tries to deny.
    Causality plays and important role in science and human lives, so Hume's long exposition on the matter is appreciable. He led many thinkers like Kant to think that how some universally accepted principles may be replete with egregious flaws. His critique shows that he had been true to his empiricism and hence regarded as most consistent empiricist.
  • @Vivaan Thanks a ton for the answers. Let's be active and keep the momentum going.
  • Write a short note on esse est percipi.(150 words,10 marks,2015)
    Ans-Concept of esse est percipi was given by Berkeley.It means that to be is to be perceived. Berkeley believed that nothing can exist independent of our mind.Esse est percipi is necessary condition for something to be real as per him. In his 'Three dialogues' through the mouthpiece of Philonous he conveys the idea that there exists no material substance as it is made up of primary and secondary qualities. But neither primary qualities like extension, solidity,dimension etc nor secondary qualities like color,taste ,heat etc have independent existence. The common argument that he takes to refute the qualities is that they are perceived differently by different people. Had there existence been independent of mind, they would have appeared same to all. Even abstract ideas have been refuted by him.
    However he faulted when in order to avoid solipsism he proposed that things exist even when they are not perceived by us as they are the thoughts in God's mind. Also, Philosophers like Moore have made the distinction between things in themselves and things as perceived by us. Things existing in themselves have independent existence. Samuel Johnson criticizes Berkeley by giving an analogy. I kicked a stone and I got bruises which does not involve mind. Lastly Perry criticized him for committing the fallacy of exclusive particularity.
    Though there are problems in Berkeley's esse est percipi but he can be said to be a 'Locke made consistent' by proposing such theory and defending it appropriately.

    Hey @Vivaan

    Good write-up, consistent with exam format. Certain points here:

    1. Mention "subjective idealism" and "objective idealism" somewhere in the answer. it will give more substance to it.
    2. For criticism part, writing in points makes it clearer, more readable and saves time too.
    3. "However he faulted when in order to avoid solipsism he proposed that things exist even when they are not perceived by us as they are the thoughts in God's mind" , what exactly is the fault? Berkeley avoided Solipsism in 3 ways, one of which was God's perception. Other philosophers haven't refuted Berkelian idealism due to this point. Moore's and others' refutation were concerned with other points of idealism as you rightly mentioned about RB Perry.
  • Write a short note on esse est percipi.(150 words,10 marks,2015)
    Ans-Concept of esse est percipi was given by Berkeley.It means that to be is to be perceived. Berkeley believed that nothing can exist independent of our mind.Esse est percipi is necessary condition for something to be real as per him. In his 'Three dialogues' through the mouthpiece of Philonous he conveys the idea that there exists no material substance as it is made up of primary and secondary qualities. But neither primary qualities like extension, solidity,dimension etc nor secondary qualities like color,taste ,heat etc have independent existence. The common argument that he takes to refute the qualities is that they are perceived differently by different people. Had there existence been independent of mind, they would have appeared same to all. Even abstract ideas have been refuted by him.
    However he faulted when in order to avoid solipsism he proposed that things exist even when they are not perceived by us as they are the thoughts in God's mind. Also, Philosophers like Moore have made the distinction between things in themselves and things as perceived by us. Things existing in themselves have independent existence. Samuel Johnson criticizes Berkeley by giving an analogy. I kicked a stone and I got bruises which does not involve mind. Lastly Perry criticized him for committing the fallacy of exclusive particularity.
    Though there are problems in Berkeley's esse est percipi but he can be said to be a 'Locke made consistent' by proposing such theory and defending it appropriately.

    Hey @Vivaan

    Good write-up, consistent with exam format. Certain points here:

    1. Mention "subjective idealism" and "objective idealism" somewhere in the answer. it will give more substance to it.
    2. For criticism part, writing in points makes it clearer, more readable and saves time too.
    3. "However he faulted when in order to avoid solipsism he proposed that things exist even when they are not perceived by us as they are the thoughts in God's mind" , what exactly is the fault? Berkeley avoided Solipsism in 3 ways, one of which was God's perception. Other philosophers haven't refuted Berkelian idealism due to this point. Moore's and others' refutation were concerned with other points of idealism as you rightly mentioned about RB Perry.
    thank you for additions..point 1 is really good...i completely forgot to mention
    2.will take care from next time
    3.fault was that if everything exists in mind then from where God's ideas came when we havent conceived him...yeah God was one of the point to avoid solipsism...Moore we can use here na?
  • @Vivaan Thanks a ton for the answers. Let's be active and keep the momentum going.
    yeah i will be active on this thread as have to catch up the topics...i commit ;p...though not daily but regularly :)...lets hope for more contributions
  • Who is your favorite western philosopher or whose philosophy do you consider explain questions most satisfactorily? Why?
  • Hey @Vivaan

    ur criticism about God may be logically right but have u ever read it in Berkeley's criticism from some authentic source (book, notes, etc) or is it something that u think? I'm stressing on this point coz in philo checking, it's a clear instruction that we can't criticise unless its coming from some philosopher (got to know it from 2 authentic sources). We can sometimes write without naming that philosopher due to paucity of time and space but it has to be a genuine one.
    I haven't read this criticism for Berkeley (may be my sources are silent on this) but if you've read it, then go for it :smiley:

  • Can anyone explain ''Real is rational, rational is real'?
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