Phl 302
Dr. Uzgalis
Winter 1996

EXERCISE: BERKELEY ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY QUALITIES

In the First Dialogue between Hylas and Philonous Berkeley gives a series of arguments to show that various qualities are mind dependent (and thus not parts of independently existing material substances). You will be divided into groups. Each group will deal with two arguments. The first of these will be done by all thegroups, the second will vary from group to group. What I want you to do is:

• Reconstruct two of these arguments and determine if they have a similar structure.
• Explain in what way these arguments are skeptical or relativistic.

A. Reconstruct both arguments and determine if they have a similar structure. (The numbers in the following list correspond to the number of your group.)

1. a.Take what I will call the "bucket of water argument" about hot and cold on Pg. 223--25. List and number the premises, draw a line and write the conclusion underneath it. b. Reconstruct the argument about taste on Pg. 225 in the same way. c. Compare it with the bucket of water argument. Is the structure the same or different?
2. a. Reconstruct the "bucket of water argument" on Pp. 223-5. b. Reconstruct the argument about odors on Pg. 225 in the same way. c. Compare it with the "bucket of water" argument. Is the structure the same or different?
3. a.Reconstruct the "bucket of water argument" on Pp. 223--5. b. Reconstruct the argument about sounds of P. 227. c. Compare it with the "bucket of water" argument. Is the structure of the two arguments the same or different?

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