Question:medium

"To Be is to be Perceived" is the idea given by which philosopher?

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Berkeley's philosophy is known as "idealism," where he argued that objects only exist as perceptions in the mind, challenging materialist views of existence.
Updated On: Jan 16, 2026
  • Locke
  • Kant
  • Berkeley
  • Hume
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Phase 1: Grasping Berkeley's Idealism.
Irish philosopher George Berkeley posited his famous axiom, "To be is to be perceived," a cornerstone of his idealist philosophy. This doctrine asserts that material objects lack independent existence; their reality is entirely dependent on being apprehended by a mind, whether human or divine.
Phase 2: Examining the Choices.
- 1. Locke: While a proponent of empiricism and the distinction between primary and secondary qualities of matter, Locke did not align with Berkeley’s view of reality being contingent on perception.- 2. Kant: Kant contended that the "thing-in-itself" (noumenon) is unknowable but did not equate existence with being perceived.- 3. Berkeley: This is the accurate representation. Berkeley's idealism fundamentally states that existence is synonymous with perception.- 4. Hume: Hume, a skeptic, critically examined causality and perception but did not reduce existence to perception as Berkeley did.
Phase 3: Determination. The accurate selection is 3. Berkeley.
Concluding Statement: \[ \boxed{\text{The correct answer is 3. Berkeley.}} \]
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