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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    Made withinDC&Austin
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    Perspectives
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    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that One cannot conceive of anything existing unconceived.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.The inability to conceive of X without conceiving it is a feature of the conceiving act, not evidence of X's mind-dependence.
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    • 2.Bertrand Russell's distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description shows objects can be referred to without being directly conceived.
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    • 3.An unconceived tree falling in a forest is described, not conceived — description does not collapse into idealist conception.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.G.E. Moore's 'Here is a hand' argument establishes that certainty about external objects exceeds certainty about idealist premises derived from introspection.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The performative self-refutation Berkeley identifies applies equally to Berkeley's own claims about minds perceiving — the argument proves too much and collapses into solipsism without independent grounding.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.In attempting to conceive of an object existing unconceived, one is still conceiving of that object.
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    • 2.The act of conceiving necessarily makes the object conceived a content of mind.
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    • 3.Therefore, the supposition of an unconceived existent is self-undermining whenever one attempts to entertain it.
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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.