A »Linguistic Philosopher« Looks at Lenin's Materialism and Empirio-Criticism
A »Linguistic Philosopher« Looks at Lenin's Materialism and Empirio-Criticism

Summary/Abstract: Lenin starts by considering the views of Bishop Berkeley, and offers two short definitions: »Materialism is the recognition of 'objects in themselves', or outside the mind; ideas and sensations are copies or images of those objects. The opposite doctrine (idealism) claims that objects do not exist 'without the mind'; objects are 'combinations of sensations'« (Lenin (1), p. 17). This is a fair and admirablv brief account of what lis at stake between Berkeley and his opponents; and, as Lenin at once goes on to note, it is materialism in this sense which Berkeley thinks in the »foundation ... of Atheism and Irreligion... How great a friend material substance has been to Atheists in all ages were needless to relate« (Berkeley, § 92: quoted Lenin (l), p. 19).

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