Proof of External World

A detailed Summary of Proof of External World

Common Sense: Our Innate Foundation of Knowledge

The human brain, as we know it, was created within the parameters of metaphysical laws, which were then built into the architecture of the human mind. Using this theory as a premiss, one could hypothesize that the brain itself, recognizes the parameters of metaphysical law. Just as these laws proclaimed the undeniable truths behind concepts such as time and space, they establish the existence of an external world as did Moore through his use of common sense by saying, "here is one hand" and "here is another".

Common sense is understood as, "Beliefs or propositions that seem common to most people, to be obviously true as any beliefs can be. This however cannot be considered a definition of common sense; the issue of what common sense is vexed, and its vexedness is one reason why many philosophers eschew the word altogether. " (Wikipedia1) Moore believed that propositions are truer than premises because the premises or what Moore would "theories" claimed by some philosophers contain falsehoods. Moore believed it is more justified to believe in "common sense".

Common sense is a part of our a priori knowledge, among many other undeniable facets of human knowledge. Human int

One defender of the particularist belief system, Thomas Reid, established three basic "earmarks" of common sense. First, principles of common sense are believed universally. Secondly, it is appropriate to ridicule the denial of common sense. Finally, the denial of common sense leads to contradictions. I believe that these indications support my contention that common sense proves the existence of an external world. As Chisolm said to Hume, a philosopher, who followed Locke in empirism and who was against common sense as containing nothing but illusion, "I think Reid and Moore are right myself and the methodists are wrong." (Reason & Responsibility163)

Chisolm goes on to say, "An even greater example of a particularist is the 20th Century English philosopher, G. E. Moore." In "A Defense of Common Sense" (1925), Moore states "that everyone knows simple beliefs are absolutely true even when they are not analyzed. There are two groups that oppose this view. The idealists deny the truths of the beliefs while the skeptics deny that we know the beliefs. Moore dismisses both groups as being self-defeating and illogical." (Kemerling1)

In the same essay, Moore lists premises that he considers to be obvious truths, such as, "There exists at this time a living human body which is my body," "My body has existed continuously on or near the earth, at various distances from or in contact with other existing things, including other living human beings." Moore vehemently disputes that these premises are more unquestionably true than the proposals of many philosophical claims, which impose their deceptions such as the claim made by A. N. Whitehead that time does not exist. Therefore, I strongly adopt G. E. Moore's attempts to justify his claim as stated in "Proof of an External World" based upon the theory of common sense.

Roderick Chisolm posed two questions; in order for all philosophers to distinguish themselves into two major groups of thought. He posed q

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Approximate Word count = 1327
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English