Berkeley

Biography of Philosopher George Berkeley

Full Name: George Berkeley (also known as Bishop Berkeley)

Birthplace: Kilcrin, County Kilkenny, Ireland

Birth Date: March 12, 1685

Death Date: January 14, 1753

Place of Death: Oxford, England

Early Life : George Berkeley was born on March 12, 1685, in Kilcrin, County Kilkenny, Ireland. He came from a relatively well-off family and received his early education at Kilkenny College. In 1700, he entered Trinity College, Dublin, where he excelled in his studies and earned his bachelor's degree in 1704.

Berkeley continued his education at Trinity College and completed his master's degree in 1707. During this time, he was exposed to various philosophical ideas and became particularly interested in the works of John Locke and Isaac Newton. These philosophers and scientists would greatly influence his later philosophical thinking.

Personal Life: In 1710, George Berkeley was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church, and he briefly served as a chaplain. However, he soon decided to pursue a career in academia and philosophy. He traveled to London in 1713 to publish his first major philosophical work, "An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision," which examined the nature of perception and vision.

In 1721, Berkeley embarked on a journey to the American colonies, specifically Bermuda, where he planned to establish a college. Although he was not successful in this endeavor, he spent three years in Bermuda, which inspired some of his later writings. After returning to England, he continued his philosophical work and engaged in debates with other prominent philosophers of the time.

Written Works: George Berkeley is best known for his contributions to philosophy, particularly his idealist philosophy and critique of materialism. Some of his notable works include:

"An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision" (1709): Berkeley's first major work explored the nature of perception, arguing that what we see is not physical objects but rather ideas in our minds.

"A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge" (1710): In this work, Berkeley elaborated on his idealist philosophy, proposing that reality consists solely of minds and the ideas they contain. He famously asserted, "To be is to be perceived."

"Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous" (1713): Written in the form of dialogues, this work presents Berkeley's idealism in a conversational format, engaging with objections and criticisms.

Legacy: George Berkeley's philosophy had a lasting impact on the history of philosophy. His idealism, known as subjective idealism or immaterialism, challenged the prevailing materialist and empiricist views of his time. He argued that the physical world only exists as a collection of ideas perceived by minds, thereby rejecting the notion of matter as an independent substance.

Berkeley's philosophy influenced subsequent philosophers, including David Hume and Immanuel Kant, who were prompted to address issues of perception and metaphysics in their own work. Berkeley's ideas also played a role in the development of later philosophical movements, such as German idealism.

Death: George Berkeley spent his later years in England and held various academic positions, including the role of Bishop of Cloyne, Ireland. He continued to write and engage in philosophical discussions until his death.

Berkeley passed away on January 14, 1753, in Oxford, England, at the age of 67. His contributions to philosophy, especially his idealist stance, remain an important part of the history of Western philosophy, and his works continue to be studied and debated by scholars and philosophers to this day.