René Descartes And Bertrand Russell: The Problem Of Physical Ideas

As children, we are raised to believe that everyday objects we perceive are existent, for the simple fact that we can see them. However, as one gets older, it is only natural for topics such as these to be brought into question. The inquiry of whether physical objects exist is not a new topic of discussion. Philosophers have been tussling with this argument of reality V.S appearance for centuries. One of the most notable was Bertrand Russell’s argument on this topic. The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell is a detailed piece, that put into question: whether or not external/ physical objects are real, in the sense that they are independent of people seeing them? This in turn raises an even more important question: Do we have knowledge …show more content…
Aside from Bertrand Russell, other known philosopher that attempted to answer these questions were: René Descartes and George Berkeley. Though both philosophers in certain aspect hold similar views to Russell, Berkeley has the most similarities to Russell. Believing that everything in existence is based on sense data and the sensation that we we get from them, Berkeley, in that sense is some what similar to Russell as they both believes in sense data. Though the two believe that matter exists (the table), Russell, however, discredits Berkeley’s argument as Berkeley also believes that our senses should not be trusted “Hyl: I admit that. But doesn’t my ·visual· sense deceive me in those cases, ·by telling me that sensible objects are at a distance when really they are not·?” (Berkeley D1, 23)³. This for Russell, is proof that Berkeley’s argument is weak. Berkeley also believes that physical are an acquisition of ideas from God and that nothing exists independently of the mind. Whereas, russell believes that physical objects are a collection of matter and that they are independent of the mind. Yet another argument of Berkeley’s that Russell uses to prove his point was the existence of the cat. Supposing that one of them owned a cat and saw set cat in one room, then again in another room, rises the question of how the cat got there? If we are to assume that physical objects are independent of our minds then how is this cat able to more from one room to the next, when it is not being seen. Accordingly, Berkeley 's argument of non-mind independent objects developing a hunger for food. Again if we are to assume that the cat is dependent of our minds then how would it be able to get hungry in the time span that it is not being observed. This argument for further promotes Russell 's beliefs as Berkeley 's becomes apparently