George Berkeley, Irish Philosopher and Anglican Bishop, Died

George Berkeley (March 12, 1685 – January 14, 1753), also known as Bishop Berkeley, was an influential Irish philosopher whose primary philosophical achievement is the advancement of what has come to be called subjective idealism, summed up in his dictum, Esse est percipi (To be is to be perceived).

Basically, the theory is that we can only directly know sensations and ideas of objects, not abstractions such as matter. He wrote a number of works, the most widely-read of which are his Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710) and Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous (1713) (Philonous, the lover of the mind, representing Berkeley himself).

In 1734 he published The Analyst, a critique of the foundations of science, which was very influential in the subsequent development of mathematics.

The city of Berkeley, California is named after him, but the pronunciation of its name has evolved to suit American English.

A residential college in Yale University also bears his name.

1. Life: George Berkeley was born on March 12, 1685, near Kilkenny, Ireland. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and later became a clergyman in the Anglican Church.

2. Philosophy: Berkeley is best known for his idealist philosophy, which he presented in his work “A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge” (1710) and “Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous” (1713). He argued that the physical world and material objects are merely collections of ideas in the mind and that they exist only when perceived.

3. “Esse Est Percipi”: Berkeley’s famous dictum, “esse est percipi” or “to be is to be perceived,” encapsulates his philosophy. He contended that things exist because they are perceived by either God’s mind or human minds.

4. Theology: Berkeley’s philosophical views were deeply influenced by his religious beliefs. He saw his idealist philosophy as consistent with a belief in the existence of God and the idea that God is the ultimate perceiver.

5. Influence: Berkeley’s idealism had a significant impact on the development of philosophy and the understanding of the nature of reality. His ideas have been influential in both philosophy and theology.

6. Later Life: In later years, Berkeley served as a bishop in the Anglican Church, and he continued to write and engage in philosophical and theological discussions.

George Berkeley’s philosophy remains an important part of the history of ideas and has been the subject of extensive debate and discussion in the centuries following his death. His work in the philosophy of perception and idealism has left a lasting impact on the field of philosophy.