Philosophy Paper- Berkeley

Use the textbook as your main resource!! The notes are just to help.

1) You may choose to write the essay however you see fit—including in a creative format; but be sure to stay close to the texts. INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO DIRECT QUOTATIONS FROM THE ARTICLE(S) IN YOUR ESSAY. This gives me some evidence that you’ve actually read the text.
2) If you’re not sure what I mean by this, my recommendation is to write a summary of the ideas you are focusing on (between 400 and 600 words roughly) in your own words, though the use of quotations here or there is encouraged. (Just don’t make most of it quotation—the point is to see that you can articulate the ideas in your own words.)
Then critically respond to any of the points you have summarized. This could involve
a) an objection: i.e., arguing that that a premise is false (or not necessarily true);
b) responding to a possible or likely objection in order to defend the author’s point;
c) showing that the conclusion does not follow from the premises.

* Finding a critical response may be difficult at first. I suggest trying to write the summary first. When you get to a point that is difficult to explain, ask yourself whether it’s you that hasn’t understood it or whether there might be something that doesn’t make sense. Go back to the text again and try to work it out. This may involve re-reading not just a section but the whole article again. If you still can’t articulate the idea, then try your best to say what it is that remains unclear. If you can do this, then you have successfully stated an objection.

Here are some sample topics. I’d prefer you to use these as models or guidelines, but you may answer them directly if you really want to.

How does Berkeley argue that there is no material world at all? What is the so-called material world in his view? Is he right?
What does ‘to exist’ (or ‘to be’) mean? Is there another way to understand it other than Berkeley’s way? If so, how might this affect his argument?