1. Frontiers of Western Philosophy Empiricism
John Locke Bishop George Berkeley David Hume
( CE) (1685 – 1753 CE) (1711 – 1776 CE)

2. Empiricism
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.

3. Empiricism
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
The external world causes visual perception which causes knowledge

4. Empiricism
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
I seem to see a tree.
A belief is a basic empirical belief if and only if
it is a direct result of sensation.

5. Empiricism
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
Non-basic beliefs
Basic empirical beliefs
Basic empirical belief serve as the foundation.
Non-basic beliefs are justified through
inference from basic empirical beliefs.

6. Empiricism is one kind of foundationalism.
Non-basic beliefs
Basic beliefs
Different kinds of foundationalism depend on (1) what is required to be a basic belief and (2) what kind of connection is required between basic and non-basic beliefs.

7. Cartesian foundationalism
Non-basic beliefs
Basic beliefs: absolutely certain
Descartes would say that (1) basic belief must be absolutely certain (indubitable) and (2) non-basic beliefs must be supported by logically valid arguments from basic beliefs.

8. Arguments for Empiricism:
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
Arguments for Empiricism:
Empirical beliefs seem more reliable than others.

9. Arguments for Empiricism:
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
Arguments for Empiricism:
Empirical beliefs seem more reliable than others.
Only empirical beliefs can tell us what the external world is like.

10. Arguments for Empiricism:
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
Arguments for Empiricism:
Empirical beliefs seem more reliable than others.
Only empirical beliefs can tell us what the external world is like.
The success of science confirms the reliability of the senses.

11. Arguments against Empiricism:
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
Arguments against Empiricism:
The senses do not present the world as it really is.

12. Arguments against Empiricism:
The senses do not present the world as it really is.
For example: colors, tastes, smells and textures are experiences that human minds have; they are not direct experiences of things in the world.

13. Arguments against Empiricism:
The senses do not always present the world as it really is in itself.
For example: colors, tastes, smells and textures are experiences that human minds have; they are not direct experiences of things in the world.
So we must distinguish the following things:

14. John Locke:
A primary quality in an object produces ideas in humans that really resemble the object as it is in itself (for example, shape, size, motion).

15. John Locke:
A primary quality in an object produces ideas in humans that really resemble the object as it is in itself (for example, shape, size, motion).
A secondary quality in an object produces ideas in humans that do not really resemble the object as it is in itself (for example, color, taste, smell).

16. John Locke:
A primary quality in an object produces ideas in humans that really resemble the object as it is in itself (for example, shape, size, motion).
A secondary quality in an object produces ideas in humans that do not really resemble the object as it is in itself (for example, color, taste, smell).
Shape: yes
Color: no

17. An Objection from Berkeley:
The ideas caused by Locke’s primary qualities (such as shape, size, and motion) seem to depend on the observer in the same way that the ideas caused by secondary qualities do. So they are not really qualities of the objects in themselves, either.

18. Arguments against Empiricism:
The senses do not always present the world as it really is in itself.
2. The senses can only confirm particular cases, not general truths. (This is the problem of induction.)

19. Particular vs. General Claims:
A particular claim is about some specific object or event.
A general claim is about kinds of objects or events, but does not mention any specific object or event.

20. Particular vs. General Claims:
A particular claim is about some specific object or event.
For example, “This Power Point presentation is fascinating.”
A general claim is about kinds of objects or events, but does not mention any specific object or event.
For example, “All Power Point presentations are fascinating.”

21. Arguments against Empiricism:
The senses do not always present the world as it really is in itself.
2. The senses can only confirm particular cases, not general truths. (This is the problem of induction.)
This swan is white.
This swan is white.
This swan is white.
This swan is white.

22. Arguments against Empiricism:
The senses do not always present the world as it really is in itself.
2. The senses can only confirm particular cases, not general truths. (This is the problem of induction.) ?
All swans are white.
This swan is white.
This swan is white.
This swan is white.
This swan is white.

23. The Problem of Induction:
No number of particular observations will justify a universal conclusion.
Bertrand Russell
( CE)

24. The Problem of Induction:
No number of particular observations will justify a universal conclusion.
All of our observations concerning the world have occurred in the past, so we cannot assume that the future will be like the past.
Bertrand Russell
( CE)

25. The Problem of Induction:
No number of particular observations will justify a universal conclusion.
All of our observations concerning the world have occurred in the past, so we cannot assume that the future will be like the past.
For all we know, then, tomorrow the world might be completely different than it is today.
Bertrand Russell
( CE)

26. Empiricism
Empiricism: all of our knowledge comes through the use of the five senses.
Non-basic beliefs
Basic empirical beliefs
Empiricism seems to limit us to knowing only the present contents of our immediate sense experiences; it does not justify beliefs about the past or the future or general beliefs in universal principles.