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George Berkeley
94quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
George Berkeley was born on March 12, 1685, in Kilmuckridge, County Wexford, Ireland. He is commonly known as the Bishop of Cloyne.
Birth and Death Dates
March 12, 1685 - January 14, 1753
Nationality and Profession(s)
Berkeley was an Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop. His nationality is often attributed to England due to his later residence in that country; however, he maintained strong ties to Ireland throughout his life.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family of moderate means, Berkeley's early life was marked by spiritual devotion and intellectual curiosity. He received his education at Kilkenny College, where he developed an interest in classical literature and philosophy. Berkeley later attended Trinity College in Dublin, graduating with a degree in divinity.
Major Accomplishments
Berkeley is recognized for his contributions to the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, and theology. His philosophical ideas were instrumental in shaping the empiricist movement of the 17th century. Some of his key accomplishments include:
Immaterialism: Berkeley's theory posits that matter does not exist independently but is, in fact, a creation of our perceptions.
Subjective Idealism: This concept asserts that reality is solely a product of individual minds and cannot be understood through external observation.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Berkeley's notable works include:
"A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge" (1710): In this work, Berkeley presents his case for immaterialism and subjective idealism.
"Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous" (1713): This book is a dialogue between two characters debating the nature of reality.
Impact and Legacy
Berkeley's ideas have had a lasting impact on Western philosophy. His philosophical framework has influenced prominent thinkers, such as Immanuel Kant and David Hume. The concepts of immaterialism and subjective idealism continue to be debated in contemporary philosophy.
Quotes by George Berkeley
George Berkeley's insights on:
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Others indeed may talk, and write, and fight about liberty, and make an outward pretence to it; but the free-thinker alone is truly free.
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To be a good patriot, a man must consider his countrymen as God’s creatures, and himself as accountable for his acting towards them.
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If what you mean by the word “matter” be only the unknown support of unknown qualities, it is no matter whether there is such a thing or no, since it no way concerns us; and I do not see the advantage there is in disputing about what we know not what, and we know not why.
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The fawning courtier and the surly squire often mean the same thing, – each his own interest.
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Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day: Time’s noblest offspring is the last.
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But the velocities of the velocities – the second, third, fourth, and fifth velocities, etc. – exceed, if I mistake not, all human understanding...
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I know what I mean by the term I and myself; and I know this immediately, or intuitively, though I do not perceive it as I perceive a triangle, a colour, or a sound.
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I am old and do not suffer fools gently and if you expect me to review your work, it better meet my stringent standards for logic and science.
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If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
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