George Berkeley
George Berkeley (1685–1753) was an Irish philosopher whose primary philosophical achievement is the advancement of a theory he called 'immaterialism' (later referred to as 'subjective idealism' by others). This theory denies the existence of material substance and instead contends that familiar objects like tables and chairs are only ideas in the minds of perceivers and, as a result, cannot exist without being perceived. Berkeley is also known for his critique of abstraction, an important principle in his philosophy. He was also involved in the fields of mathematics and the empirical study of vision. In addition to his philosophical work, Berkeley was a bishop in the Anglican Church.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
This philosophical work challenges the idea of materialism, arguing that objects only exist as a perception of the mind. The author asserts that we can only directly know sensations and ideas of objects, not the objects themselves. He also discusses the role of God, suggesting that our perceptions are dependent on the will of a higher power. The text is a significant contribution to the field of metaphysics and epistemology, offering a unique perspective on the nature of human knowledge and perception.
