Class 12 Logic & Philosophy Chapter 6 Idealism: Subjective and Objective
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Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. “Esse est percipi” (To be is to be perceived): Whose statement isthis? H. S. ’18
Ans: George Berkeley.
2. According to which philosopher are thought and being identical?
Ans: According to philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
3. Who introduced Objective Idealism in modern philosophy?
Ans: George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
4. Which philosopher introduced Subjective Idealism in modernphilosophy?
Ans: George Berkeley.
5. Among the following philosophers, who is not an Idealist? H. S. ’15
(a) Berkeley
(b) G. E. Moore
(c) Bradley
Ans: (b) G. E. Moore.
6. “Thought and being are ultimately identical” — Whose statementis this?
Ans: This statement is of philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. The name of the philosophical doctrine is Objective Idealism.
B. Short Question–Answers: (Marks for each – 2)
1. What is the meaning of “Esse est percipi”? H. S. ’15, ’18
Ans: The meaning of “Esse est percipi” is that no object in this world isindependent of the mind. The existence of an object is determined byperception.
2. What is meant by the Dialectical Method?
Ans: The process of thought by which the relation between matter andspirit, being and non-being, and their oppositions is reconciled is called the Dialectical Method.
3. Define Objective Idealism. H. S. ’18
Ans: The doctrine which admits the existence of the Absolute Spirit orConscious Reality and holds that the material world is the manifestation ofthat Absolute Reality is called Objective Idealism.
4. Define Solipsism. Write the name of the theory associated withit.
Ans: The philosophical doctrine according to which only the self of anindividual alone exists is called Solipsism. The theory associated with it isBerkeley’s Subjective Idealism.
5. What is Idealism? Or, define Idealism in your own words. H. S. ’19
Ans: The doctrine which holds that the objects of nature have no mindindependent existence and that the spiritual world alone is the ultimate realityis called Idealism.
6. Write the name of the type of Idealism associated with theDialectical Method. Who supported this method? H. S. ’17
Ans: The type of Idealism associated with the Dialectical Method isObjective Idealism. The philosopher who supported this method is GeorgWilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
7. Write any two characteristics of Objective Idealism. H. S. ’15, ’17
Ans: Two characteristics of Objective Idealism are—(a) Reality is a dynamic process.
(b) Being and thought are identical.
8. Write two criticisms of Objective Idealism. H. S. ’15
Ans: Two criticisms of Objective Idealism:
(1) According to Hegel, the Absolute Reality is self-conscious and rational. At the same time, he describes reality as concrete. From a philosophical stand point, pure rational self-consciousness and concreteness appear contradictory.
(2) Hegel describes his Idealism as teleological, but it is difficult tounderstand the purpose of inert or material substances.
9. Define Berkeley’s Subjective Idealism. Was Berkeley a Solipsist philosopher? H. S. ’17
Ans: According to George Berkeley, only mind or consciousness alonehas real existence and all knowable objects are dependent on the mind; this iscalled Subjective Idealism. Berkeley was a Solipsist philosopher.
10. What do you understand by Idealism? Write two differencesbetween Realism and Idealism. H. S. ’14
Ans: The doctrine according to which the object of knowledge dependson the mind of the knower and nothing can exist outside the mind of theknower is called Idealism.
The two differences between Realism and Idealism are—
(a) Realism accepts the existence of an independent world, but Idealismdoes not accept such independent existence.
(b) In Realism, the object has primacy over the subject; whereas inIdealism, the subject has primacy over the object.
11. What is meant by Combination of Effects? How many typesare there?
Ans: The various mixtures produced by combined causes are calledCombination of Effects. There are two types of Combination of Effects—
(a) Homogeneous Combination of Effects and
(b) Heterogeneous Combination of Effects.
C. Medium Length Questions &Answers: (Marks for each – 4)
1. What are the different types of Idealism?
Ans: The different types of Idealism are:
(a) Subjective Idealism.
(b) Objective Idealism, and
(c) Phenomenal Idealism.
2. Is Subjective Idealism acceptable? If not, why?
Ans: Subjective Idealism cannot be regarded as an acceptable doctrinebecause:
(a) It cannot explain the continuity and permanence of the existence ofobjects.
(b) According to the subjective idealist philosopher George Berkeley, objects are nothing but our perceptions. Perceptions in this case are relativeand changeable.
(c) Subjective Idealism denies the distinction between sensation and theobject of sensation. But in reality, the difference between the two cannot bedenied.
3. Explain the statement “Pratyaksha iti vidyate.”
Ans: The meaning of the statement “Pratyaksha iti vidyate” is that theexistence of an object lies in its being perceived. This is the central doctrineof Berkeley’s Subjective Idealism. Refuting the scientific realism of JohnLocke, Berkeley established his theory of Subjective Idealism on this basis.
According to Subjective Idealism, only what we perceive exists. That is, anobject exists only because it is perceived. It is explained that an object remains in existence so long as it is perceived. When it is no longer perceived, it ceasesto exist. In criticism, critics argue that if this theory is accepted, the existenceof an object would always remain uncertain and changeable. Since the theoryadmits that an object exists only at the time of perception and ceases to exist when not perceived, its existence becomes unstable. But Berkeley refutedthis objection by stating that a particular object is perceived not merely byone individual but by many. Moreover, when no human being perceives it, God always perceives it.
4. What is Berkeley’s Subjective Idealism? On what grounds didhe say that primary and secondary qualities are identical? H.S. ’15
Ans: According to Berkeley, only mind or consciousness has real existence, and all knowable objects depend upon the mind. This doctrine is known as Subjective Idealism. He argued that primary and secondary qualities areidentical because, in his view, all qualities depend upon the perceiving subject. Just as colour, smell, and taste depend upon the individual, so also extension, shape, and weight depend upon the perceiver.
5. Write a note on Plato’s Idealism. H.S. ’19
Ans: There is a clear indication of Idealism in the philosophy of Plato. According to him, all objects in this world are transient. Every object has adefinite span of existence, and when that period ends, it disappears. Particular things are always changing, but universals are eternal, indestructible, and permanent. Plato sometimes called these universals Ideas and sometimes Forms.
6. Explain Aristotle’s concept of cause. H.S. ’19
Or
Define cause. According to Aristotle, how many kinds of causes arethere? Discuss with examples.
Ans: A cause is the invariable and unconditional antecedent of an effect. Aristotle divided causes into four kinds:
(a) Material Cause: The substance or matter out of which a thing ismade is called the material cause. For example, if a wooden table is taken asan effect, wood is its material cause.
(b) Formal Cause: The form or shape given to the material to produce a thing is called the formal cause. For example, the shape given to the wood tomake a table is its formal cause.
(c) Efficient Cause: The power, skill, or agency that produces an effect is called the efficient cause. For example, the carpenter who makes the tableis the efficient cause.
(d) Final Cause: The purpose or end for which a thing is made is calledthe final cause. For example, if the table is made for study or writing, that purpose is the final cause.
7. Following Carveth Read, define cause. Briefly explain thequalitative characteristics of cause. H.S. ’17
Ans: According to the philosopher Carveth Read, “Qualitatively, a causeis the invariable, immediate, unconditional antecedent of an effect; andquantitatively, cause and effect are equal.”
Some qualitative characteristics of cause are:
(a) Cause and effect are relative terms. There can be no effect without a cause and no cause without an effect.
(b) Cause and effect are always antecedent and consequent events. Thecause invariably accompanies the effect.
(c) The power to produce the effect must be present in the cause; onlythen can a causal relation be established.
(d) One effect has only one cause.
D. Essay Type Questions and Answers (Marks for each – 6)8. Discuss Hegel’s Objective Idealism. H.S. ’15, ’16
Or
Give a critical explanation of Hegel’s Objective Idealism. Or Statefour characteristics of Hegel’s Objective Idealism. H.S. ’20
Ans: The chief exponent of Objective Idealism is G. W. F. Hegel. According to him, the Absolute Idea is the ultimate reality. All finite ideas ofhuman beings are ultimately included in the Absolute. The Absolute manifestsits consciousness through finite ideas. The Absolute Idea or Absolute Thought is the inner essence of the world. The “Absolute Idea” is the fundamental power behind all that is intelligibleto human beings, and the relation between worldly objects and living beingsis inseparable. Just as the organs of a body are inseparably related to the whole body and cannot exist independently of it, similarly finite objects and livingbeings cannot exist without the Absolute Idea. This is the central doctrine ofHegel’s Objective Idealism. Hegel’s Absolute is living and dynamic. Throughthe diversity of the world, it manifests its own nature. Without the world, theAbsolute would be incomplete. The conflicts in finite human thoughts areexpressions of the play of the Absolute. According to Hegel, thought and beingare ultimately identical. Thus, through the finite, the manifestation of theAbsolute becomes clearer and more beautiful. In short, Hegel’s Idealismaccepts the reality of the world. The criticisms of Hegel’s Idealism are as follows:
(1) Hegel describes the Absolute as self-conscious and rational, yet healso calls it concrete. From a philosophical standpoint, such rational self-consciousness appears self-contradictory.
(2) Hegel calls his doctrine teleological, but it is difficult to understandthe purpose of inert or material objects.
(3) Hegelian Idealism holds that even the material world and conscioushuman selves are necessary parts of the Absolute. But how the Infinitemanifests itself through finite forms cannot be satisfactorily explained byIdealism.
9. Explain Subjective Idealism with criticism.
Or
What is Berkeley’s Subjective Idealism? Write four criticismsagainst it. H.S. ’14, ’16
Ans: The propounder of Subjective Idealism is George Berkeley. His theory developed as a logical consequence of the empiricism of John Locke. According to Berkeley’s Subjective Idealism, only ideas can be known, and only ideas are real. The natural world has no existence independent ofthe perceiving mind. In simple terms, the essence of his doctrine is “to be is tobe perceived.” According to this view, the existence of an object dependsupon its being perceived by some individual. Whatever cannot be perceiveddoes not exist. If no one perceives a thing, it has no existence. Since existence depends on perception, to say that an object exists means that it is perceivedby someone. In short, for an object to be established as real, it must be knownthrough perception. Anything that is not an object of perceptual knowledgecannot even be an object of indirect knowledge. Modern realists have criticised Berkeley’s Subjective Idealism in thefollowing ways:
(1) The modern realist G. E. Moore argues that for a satisfactory theory ofknowledge, a distinction between the object and the sensation must beaccepted. Subjective Idealists deny this distinction.
(2) According to Berkeley, sensation and the object of sensation areidentical. But this is not true. Although there is an inseparable relation between sensation and its object, this does not prove them to be identical.
(3) Berkeley’s doctrine that existence depends upon perception logicallyleads to solipsism. However, solipsism fails to provide a satisfactoryexplanation of the external world.
