Berkeley and Perception
Imagine an apple sitting in space. A perceiver recognizes the existence of the apple. In other words, a person sees the apple sitting in space. It is of no consequence exactly where the apple is. The perceiver (the person) uses their sense of sight to gather that the apple is green. The use of touch reveals the apple is firm and seasoned. Smell discloses the apple is ripe. When a bite is taken from the apple a certain taste emulsifies the mouth and tells the perceiver something. What something? What is really happening here? According to Berkeley, author of Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues, the perceiver is perceiving the sensible impressions (193) integrated together in the apple. He further states that the senses of sight, smell, touch, taste and sound will give the perceiver certain notions about the being of the apple. In his Third Dialogue between Philonous and Hylas Berkeley uses the example of a cherry to illustrate this point. He uses mechanics of writing that actually draw on the senses he is trying to illustrate. This makes the reader connect to the dialogue in such a way that makes reading the paragraph about the cherry a sensory experience all in itself. Sensory words are able to give a con
After all, who wants to hear about philosophy that could be considered nearly dead? They way Berkeley writes and uses the repetition combined with the universal sensory experiences makes this portion of the dialogue undying. This paradoxical statement can go around and around, having no beginning but tickling the brain. He doesn't want the reader/perceiver to remember the dialogue as it relates to the cherry, but having a memorable word and making it even doubly stand out. Berkeley is using this tool of echo to allow those perceiving the passage to gain a memorable awareness of what is happening at their present. Not established, however, are those who are deprived of one sense, partially or impartially. Is he attempting to lull the reader to sleep? Or pacify the reader/perceiver so they are comfortable moving forward with the reading? If a reader/perceiver wished to know what Berkeley was conveying in those twelve words they would in effect be taking the easy way out. Berkeley's purpose in using repetition for the advantage of association aids in his quest to spark discussion and relate his views to the reader. If one thinks - what would it be like with no softness, moisture, redness or tartness? - the lack of a sensory impression is quite thought-provoking. Once again the reader is able to relate what Philonous is perceiving to perceptions they themselves could have. The realization comes that if a reader/perceiver could not see, feel, taste, smell or hear, their perceptions would be greatly altered. Most important is the repetition of these sensory words. To use further sensory impressions, it is quite interesting that Philonous uses the absence of the cherry to aid in the explanation of its existence. The letter "s" and the sounds associated with it in Berkeley's Dialogue are prevalent in the passage dealing with the example of the cherry. Berkeley draws on the senses in explaining the senses.
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