George Berkeley

John Smibert - Bishop George Berkeley - Google Art Project

George Berkeley (12 March 1685 – 14 January 1753) was an Irish philosopher whose primary achievement was 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 concept in philosophy.

Early Life and Education

George Berkeley was born on 12 March 1685 in Kilkenny, Ireland. He was the eldest son of William Berkeley, a member of the English gentry. Berkeley attended Kilkenny College and entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1700, where he completed his B.A. in 1704. Continuing his studies at Trinity College, he was elected a fellow in 1707 and completed his M.A. in 1707.

Philosophical Work

Berkeley's philosophical views were first laid out in A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710), in which he argued against the existence of material substance and proposed that objects exist only as perceptions in our minds. His motto, "esse est percipi" (to be is to be perceived), captures the essence of his immaterialism. Berkeley's ideas were in direct opposition to those of his contemporaries, such as John Locke, who believed in the existence of a material world independent of human perception.

In Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous (1713), Berkeley elaborated on his views through a dialogue between two characters. Philonous, representing Berkeley's own views, successfully convinces Hylas of the impossibility of the existence of matter as conceived by the likes of Locke.

Berkeley's immaterialism, while controversial, was part of his broader philosophical project that sought to combat skepticism and atheism by proving the existence and providence of God. He argued that the orderly and consistent nature of our perceptions could only be explained by the existence of a mind that is God, who directly causes these perceptions in human minds.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1724, Berkeley was appointed Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, where he remained until his retirement in 1752. During his time as bishop, Berkeley continued to write on philosophy, including works on mathematics and the sciences. He also proposed a plan for the establishment of a college in Bermuda to educate the children of British colonists and Native Americans, though this project was never realized.

Berkeley's influence on later philosophy has been significant, with his ideas impacting the development of empiricism and idealism. His work is seen as a precursor to the phenomenology of Husserl and the existentialism of Sartre.

Death

George Berkeley died on 14 January 1753 in Oxford, England, at the age of 67. His contributions to philosophy, particularly his arguments for immaterialism and his critique of abstraction, continue to be studied and debated by philosophers today.