Introduction to PhilosophyNotesThis is not a substitute for coming to class - or for reading the material. Richard Lee
Philosophy 2003 C 001Copyright © 2002, Richard Lee Autumn 2002
 

Berkeley's Argument for God

"Sensible things cannot exist otherwise than in a mind or spirit." (P 169b)
Not all sensible things depend on me.
Therefore, some sensible things exist but not in my mind.
Therefore, there is some other mind (in which these sensible things exist).
The sensible world exists.
The sensible world does not exist (completely) in my mind.
Therefore, there is a mind, other than mine, an "infinite," "omnipresent" mind (or spirit), in which the sensible world exists. (P 169b)
And this we call "God."


Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 28 October 2002