Author Description
Berkeley's idealism started a revolution in philosophy. As one of the great empiricist thinkers he not only influenced British philosophers from Hume to Russell and the logical positivists in the twentieth century, he also set the scene for the continental idealism of Hegel and even the philosophy of Marx. There has never been such a radical critique of common sense and perception as that given in Berkeley's Principles of Human Knowledge (1710). His views were met with disfavour, and his response to his critics was the Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous. This edition of Berkeley's two key works has an introduction which examines and in part defends his arguments for idealism, as well as offering a detailed analytical contents list, extensive philosophical notes and an index. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the core question of whether material substance exists independently of human perception. George Berkeley, an influential 18th-century empiricist, argues that objects are merely collections of ideas and that existence is defined by being perceived. He utilizes a rigorous logical framework to challenge the common-sense assumption of a mind-independent physical world, asserting that the universe is fundamentally mental in nature.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A systematic defense of subjective idealism.
- The dialectical method used in the Three Dialogues to address contemporary objections.
- Detailed philosophical notes and an analytical contents list provided by the Oxford World's Classics editorial team.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a modern scientific analysis of neurobiology or cognitive perception.
- It focuses exclusively on Berkeley's specific brand of idealism rather than a comprehensive history of all empiricist thought.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students frequently identify this volume as a foundational text for understanding the development of modern Western philosophy and the transition from early empiricism to idealism. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires careful study to fully grasp the nuances of Berkeley's arguments against material substance.
Page Count:
288
Publication Date:
1999-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191605611
ISBN-13:
9780191605611
Philosophy
Idealism
Epistemology
Knowledge Theory
Empiricism
Metaphysics
Classical Philosophy
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