G.E. Moore and Russell

Russell

"Appearance, reality, and existence of matter"

G.E. Moore

"Proof of an External World"

Moore's proof of external objects

1. if there are at least two human hands, there are external things 2. there are at least two human hands 3. therefore, there are external things

the premises of q must be distinct from p (else q begs the question) the premises of q must be known to be true the conclusion p must follow from the premises of q

According to Moore, Q is a proof of P, if it meets these three criteria

the commonsense correspondence hypothesis

Russell argues that while solipsism or a skeptical hypothesis is possible, there is no reason to accept either. There is reason to favor ? on the ground that it simplifies and systematizes our experience in ways that neither solipsism nor skeptical hypotheses do.

Instinctive Belief

Russell denies that we infer/deduce that there must be an external world from the existence of sense data. Rather, he claims that the belief in the external world is

Berkeley; Berkeley's Idealism

Russell is inclined to agree with ? that all qualities exist only in the mind. Unless we accept ? we would seem to be left either solipsism or skepticism. So the question is whether we can take our own sense data (sensory ideas) to be evidence of external objects

If an instinctive belief simplifies/systematizes our experience and harmonizes with other instinctive beliefs, it is worthy of acceptance

Russell proposes this epistemic principle