PHILOSOPHY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PHILOSOPHY - Essay Example motion, number, figures, solidity etc. As such, these were termed as characteristics of something else that ultimately conveyed facts to the observer yet do not themselves relate anything substantive. Conversely, Locke also introduced secondary qualities, which one would seemingly connect with the identification of real measurable objects. These include but are not limited to sound, taste, smell, touch, etc. In this way, the reader can understand that Locke’s understanding was that primary qualities were measurable whereas secondary qualities were subjective to the individual. However, as with most theories and ways of understanding philosophy, it was not long until Locke’s position was challenged by another philosopher. As this particular case study will illustrate, George Berkeley’s contrarian view of John Locke’s understand of reality which has thus far been related. In this way, Berkeley’s main premise is that neither the primary nor the secondary qualities are sufficient for determining reality. In this way, Berkeley provides a clean break from the ideas espoused by Locke and posits instead that the ultimate measure of reality can only be understood as a function of the ideas that sensations create within the mind of the individual. Whereas Locke sought to differentiate between subjective and objective measurements of reality, Berkeley posits that reality as a construct can only exist in the subjective realm. Due to the fact that no two individuals will behave the same way with regards to given stimuli, as a result of life experience and a host of other factors, it is similarly inconceivable, according to Berkeley, that they will approach reality from the same way and with the same results. Ultimately, Berkeley saw that once the object itself was stripped of its secondary qualities, i.e. the qualities that gave it measurable meaning to the individual, it became increasingly difficult, if not