Master argument

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The Master Argument refers to the following argument originally made by George Berkeley: it is impossible to conceive of an object existing without the mind, because the second you try to do so, the object is in your mind. The argument has been widely challenged.

In order to conceive if it is possible for a tree to exist outside of all minds, we need to be able to think of an unconceived tree. But as soon as we try to conceive of this "unconceived" tree, we have conceived it. So we have failed. This argument has been widly seen as having a horrible mistake to it. However, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact mistake Berkeley has made here. Many people believe the problem is that Berkeley fails to differentiate between the act of perception and the content of it.

In Arugment Form:
1. Matter is defined as that which can exist unperceived by any and all finite minds ("unperceived" is defined as un-thought about - whether by the senses or the mind).
2. Let X, a piece of matter, be unperceived by all finite minds.
3. Then, X is perceived by some finite mind.
4. 2 and 3 form a contradiction.
5. Therefore, X is perceived by some finite mind.
6. Therefore, of necessity, X is perceived by some finite mind.
7. Therefore, for all X, of necessity, X is perceived by some finite mind.
8. 1 and 7 form a contradiction.
9. Therefore, matter does NOT exist.