Idealism is the doctrine that whatever exists, or at least everything that can be known to exist, is mental. (Opposed to materialism: "All there is, is matter")
On this view, tables may be real, and independent of our sensations of tables, as long as they are something like ideas - and provided ideas can cause sensations.
Our sensations of tables are to some extent subjective, the sensations cannot exist except in perception. Therefore, nothing can be immediately known except what is in the mind.
(See also: Metaphysics, Metaphysical Principles,
Definition of Metaphysics, Metaphysical Techniques, Miracles, Creating
Miracles Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, Peace of
Mind, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)
Idealism is the doctrine that whatever exists, or at least everything that can be known to exist, is mental. (Opposed to materialism: "All there is, is matter")
On this view, tables may be real, and independent of our sensations of tables, as long as they are something like ideas - and provided ideas can cause sensations.
Our sensations of tables are to some extent subjective, the sensations cannot exist except in perception. Therefore, nothing can be immediately known except what is in the mind.
We cannot know that anything exists which we do not know. Therefore, if matter is something which we cannot know (by being acquainted with) then we cannot know that it exists and cannot be said to be real.
The term 'know' has two senses. You can know a thing or person (be acquainted with that thing or person). You can also 'know 'that something is the case (for example, that a certain person is happy).
Hence there is knowledge of things and knowledge of truths, and the two must be clearly distinguished.
Using this distinction, we must restate the apparent truism, which is the premise of the above as:
"We can never truly judge whether something, with which we are not acquainted, actually exists!"
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More from same author see: Times of India
See also: Metaphysical Principles, Definition of
Metaphysics, Metaphysical Techniques, Miracles, Creating Miracles
Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, Peace of Mind, Life and Beyond, Body Mind
and Soul
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