Berkeley, George

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Berkeley: The Central Arguments
A. C. Grayling
Manufacturer: Open Court Pub Co
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ASIN: 0812690370

The Cambridge Companion to Berkeley (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

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Berkeley Rules

The Cambridge Companion to Berkeley (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)
Kenneth P. Winkler
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (Oxford Philosophical Texts)

ASIN: 0521456576

Book Description

In defending the immaterialism for which he is most famous, George Berkeley, one of the most influential modern philosophers, redirected modern thinking about the nature of objectivity and the mind's capacity to come to terms with it. Along the way, he made striking and influential proposals concerning the psychology of the senses, workings of language, aims of science, and scope of mathematics. A team of distinguished contributors not only examines Berkeley's achievements in this Companion, but also his neglected contributions to moral and political philosophy, writings on economics and development, and defense of religious commitment and religious life.

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Berkeley Rules.......2006-02-25

I think that this book is an extremely helpful collection of essays on the philosophy of George Berkeley. The articles are all by preeminent scholars in the field, and they are highly accessible. In addition, they are quite interesting at that. Also, they cover a wide array of issues in Berkeley scholarship, and they don't simply focus on one area of his philosophy.

The Other Bishop Berkeley: An Exercise in Re-Enchantment

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The Other Bishop Berkeley: An Exercise in Re-Enchantment
Costica Bradatan
Manufacturer: Fordham University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 082322693X
Release Date: 2006-10-15

Book Description

Costica Bradatan proposes a new way of looking at the influential 18th-century Anglo-Irish empiricist philosopher. He approaches Berkeley's thought from the standpoint of its roots, rather than from how this thought has been viewed since his time. In Bradatan's portrait, we can see two Berkeleys, quite distinct from one another. This other Berkeley read and wrote alchemical books, designed utopian projects, and searched for "Happy Islands" and the "Earthly Paradise." His new attitude toward the material world echoed the dualistic theology of the Cathars. The thinking of the other Bishop Berkeley was rooted in Platonic, mystical, and sometimes esoteric traditions, and he saw philosophy as, above all, a kind of salvation, to be practiced as a way of life. What Bradatan uncovers is a much richer, true-to-life Berkeley, a more profound and spectacular thinker.

This book will interest scholars working in a wide variety of fields, from philosophy and the history of ideas to comparative literature, utopian studies, religious and medieval studies, and critical theory.

A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (Oxford Philosophical Texts)
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A must read for Philosophy Scholars

Ideal Idealism

Great edition for a great but flawed work.

an interesting reading

an interesting reading

A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (Oxford Philosophical Texts)
George Berkeley
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198751613

Book Description

The Oxford Philosophical Texts series consists of authoritative teaching editions of canonical texts in the History of Philosophy from the ancient world down to modern times. Each volume, issued in a uniform and affordable paperback format, provides a clear, well laid out text together with a comprehensive introduction by a leading specialist, giving the student detailed critical guidance on the intellectual context of the work and the structure and philosophical importance of the main arguments. Endnotes are supplied to expand further on the arguments and explain unfamiliar references and terminology, and a full bibliography and index are also included. The series aims to build up a definitive corpus of key texts in the Western philosophical tradition, which will form a reliable and enduring resource for students and teachers alike. In his Principles of Human Knowledge Berkeley makes the striking claim that physical things consist of nothing but ideas, and so do not exist outside the mind. This establishes Berkeley as the founder of the idealist tradition in philosophy. Berkeley argues vigorously that once we correct our understanding of the physical, we can find a new proof of the existence of God, refute sceptical attacks on human knowledge, and resolve many difficulties and paradoxes raised by the advance of science. The text printed in this volume is the 1734 edition of the Principles which is generally agreed to represent Berkeley's mature thought. Also included are the four important letters between George Berkeley and Samuel Johnson, written in 1729-30. The text is supplemented by a comprehensive introduction which looks at the structure and main arguments of the text, as well as discussing Berkeley's life, influences, and general philosophy. In addition the volume includes an analysis of the text, a glossary, detailed notes, and a full bibliography with guidance on further reading. This new edition of Berkeley's most famous work, published alongside his other masterpiece, the Three Dialogues (also edited by Jonathan Dancy) provides the student with a thorough introduction to the central ideas of one of the world's greatest philosophers.

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Philosophy being nothing else but the study of wisdom and truth, it may with reason be expected that those who have spent most time and pains in it should enjoy a greater calm and serenity of mind, a greater clearness and evidence of knowledge, and be less disturbed with doubts and difficulties than other men.

Customer Reviews:

A must read for Philosophy Scholars.......2005-12-20

A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (Commonly called "Treatise" when referring to Berkeley's works) is a 1710 work by the Irish Empiricist philosopher George Berkeley. This book largely seeks to refute the claims made by his contemporary John Locke about the nature of human perception. Whilst, like all the Empiricist philosophers, both Locke and Berkeley agreed that there was an outside world, and it was this world which caused the ideas one has within one's mind; Berkeley sought to prove that outside world was also composed solely of ideas. Berkeley did this by suggesting that "Ideas can only resemble Ideas" - the mental ideas that we possessed could only resemble other ideas (not physical objects) and thus the external world consisted not of physical form, but rather ideas. This world was given logic and regularity by some other force, which Berkeley did his best to conclude was a God.

Long refuted by most philosophers, Berkeley's claims are often felt to have been a form of rationalisation - Berkeley later became Bishop of Cloyne, and was a highly religious man. Treastise's suggestion that the world was made of ideas with an omnipitent force guiding was his alternative to the Lockean Empiricism popular at the time, which Berkeley felt led to skepticism. In spite of this Berkeley was a capable, respected and entertaining thinker. Some doubt exists as to whether he truly believed his conclusion that the world at large was composed of ideas; with modern thinking tending towards him indeed having thought this to be the case.

Ideal Idealism.......2002-10-15

This is not the place for a philosophical analysis of Berkeley's original text, and its content of argument. The review concerns the specific book edited by Dancy, and its worth in respect of its further contribution to understanding the Treatise.
This book is to be strongly recommended as it provides a multitude of resources that contextualise, criticise, and clarify, the positions put forward by Berkeley in this work.

The most substantial contribution is the extensive introduction comprised of 15 punchy sections, covering Berkeley's life, his academic heritage, and analysis of his thought (both internal and external to that given in the Treatise). Dancy is fair to Berkeley in setting forth the most robust defences of his position, and marshalling critical arguments against the Berkelian stance. This is supplemented by an extremely thorough set of endnotes that are continually present in the background of the text, offering detailed guidance whenever necessary, or desired.

Additionally, the book offers a summarised concise overview of the arguments provided in the Treatise, a glossary of archaic terms(!), and a very helpful short section entitled "How to use this book" (why don't more books include this sort of thing?). There is also a manageable annotated bibliography of further reading to trail a path for academic expansion.

Overall, I found that this book provided a systematic treatment of the text and provided a solid structure of support surrounding the subject. Also included, the letters between Berkeley and Johnson, provide an unexpected bonus. This book is relatively cheap, considering its breadth and depth. In my opinion, it is an ideal text through which to study (and enjoy) Berkeley's Treatise.

Great edition for a great but flawed work........2002-06-08

An extremely important work in the history of philosophy that everyone reads and then dismisses. You should too!

First, this edition is, like the others in this Oxford range, superb, with an excellent long introduction and numerous helpful notes. You can't do better than this unless you're looking for all of his works shoved into one volume, like the Everyman. So basically, if you're looking to study Berkeley seriously, get this edition (and pick up the Dialogues too).

On to the work itself. Berkeley's starting point is Locke's theory of substance, so it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with that first. His basic proposition is Locke's theory of ideas, without the substratum supporting them - there is, therefore, nothing material in the world other than our minds. Berkeley is a brilliant writer and he sweeps you up so thoroughly in his arguments that you can't help but be convinced. But once you've stop reading and take a step back the gaping holes in his arguments become quickly and painfully apparent.

Regardless of the validity of his argument, it's worth buying the work for two reason; his historical importance, and the sheer quality of writing - it's a highly enjoyable work to read; only Plato equals Berkeley for easy and enjoyable to read works of philosophy.

an interesting reading.......2000-03-25

This is a very important work of George Berkeley. On of its most interesting topics is that about the existence of matter. As, for human beings, the "existence" of something is related to its perception, there is a very close link between "things" and ideas. Both cannot have their existence completely proved. The arguments place the book among the most interesting on the top issues discussed in its time (empiricism, materialism, etc.)

an interesting reading.......2000-03-24

Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Berkeley and the Principles of Human Knowledge (Routledge Philosophy Guidebooks)

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Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Berkeley and the Principles of Human Knowledge (Routledge Philosophy Guidebooks)
Robert Fogelin
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415250110

Book Description

In this GuideBook, Fogelin offers a thorough commentary of the text of the Principles of Human Knowledge and guides the reader through the philosophical complexities of Berkeley's thought and its importance today. Among the topics discussed are Berkeley's life and the background of the Principles, the ideas and text in the Treatise and his continuing importance to philosophy.

Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous

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Another standard of basic philosophy
A classic of Western Philosophy
Superb edition, flawed work.
A reader-friendly introduction to Berkeley.

Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous
George Berkeley
Manufacturer: Hackett Pub Co Inc
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Binding: Paperback

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Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics That Will Be Able to Come Forward As Science With Kant's Letter to Marcus Herz, February 27, 1772: The Paul Carus Translation

ASIN: 0915144611

Book Description

First published in 1713, this work was designed as a vivid and persuasive presentation of the remarkable picture of reality that Berkeley had first presented two years earlier in his Principles of Human Knowledge. His central claim there, as here, was that physical things consist of nothing but ideas in minds--that the world is not material but mental. Berkeley uses this thesis as the ground for a new argument for the existence of God, and the dialogue form enables him to raise and respond to many of the natural objections to his position. The text printed in this volume is that of the 1734 edition of the Dialogues.

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Another standard of basic philosophy.......2004-03-30

As with all philosophy, it is full of sytange and intrique ideas that you really can't prove or disprove. The way I think of the argument is that reality is like a video game or dream. We all "know" that the an object such as a table doesn't really "exist" in a video game. Its only a perception. We we turn off the video game or wake up from a dream, the table is no longer percieved, so it no longer "exists" in external reality. So in reality, how does a table continue to exist when we leave the room(no longer perceive it)? You can't really prove it does ever exist when your not percieving it. Berkeley thinks that it continues to exist as an idea in the mind of God. This God is all-knowing and everywhere at all times. He maintains the constancy of reality. In my opinion, this is a very strong theistic argument.

A classic of Western Philosophy.......2003-07-04

Along with Kant, the only Western Philosopher after Plato, worth reading. Bend your mind, and free your soul.

Superb edition, flawed work........2002-06-08

A fantasic edition like all these Oxfords. It has a long introduction detailing Berkeley's life and works, and numerous notes throughout the work itself.

As for the work itself it's a recasting of Berkeley's earlier work the Principles into dialogue form. Quite what the point of this was since the Principles were already easy to read is unclear, (although a case could be made that the Dialogues require less prior knowledge of Locke than the Principles did and are therefore a better introductory work) but it's difficult to be sorry that he did as he writes the dialogue form so well, easily the best since Plato, and in my opinion probably marginally better than Plato. He handles the character who he's trying to refute much better than Plato ever did. Unfortunately his ideas aren't on a level with Plato's. As with the Principles his writing sweeps you up and it almost convinces you that perhaps matter doesn't exist and the mind is all there is, but once again take a step back and the flaws become all too apparent.

Berkeley's too important to ignore though, and besides his books are a pleasure to read. You can't do better than this edition.

A reader-friendly introduction to Berkeley........2000-06-08

This Oxford Philosophical Texts student edition of George Berkeley's best known work features a helpful introduction, glossary, and notes by philosopher Jonathan Dancy (author of _Berkeley: An Introduction_ and editor of the Oxford Philosophical Texts edition of Berkeley's _Treatise concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge_). The forty-page introduction includes a short biography of Berkeley, a synopsis of the _Dialogues_, a summary and analysis of Berkeley's philosophy including critical discussion of his main arguments, and an exposition of the relation between the _Dialogues_ and the _Principles_. Also featured: a bibliography and an analytical table of contents for the dialogues.

As for Berkeley himself, he probably needs no introduction from me. Arguably the most judicious commentary on his thought is that of T.H. Green, who in his great _Introduction_ to Locke and Hume remarked as follows:

"His [Berkeley's] purpose was the maintenance of Theism, and a true instinct told him that pure Theism, as distinct from nature-worship and daemonism, has no philosophical foundation, unless it can be shown that there is nothing real apart from thought. But in the hurry of theological advocacy, and under the influence of a misleading terminology, he failed to distinguish this true proposition -- there is nothing real apart from thought -- from this false one, its virtual contradictory -- that there is nothing other than feeling. The confusion was covered, if not caused, by the ambiguity, often noticed, in the use of the term 'idea.' This to Berkeley's generation stood alike for feeling proper . . . and for conception, or an object thought of under relations. . . . Misled by the phrase 'idea of a thing,' we fancy that idea and thing have each a separate reality of their own, and then puzzle ourselves with questions as to how the idea can represent the thing . . . . These questions Berkeley asked and found unanswerable. There were two ways of dealing with them before him. One was to supersede them by a truer view of thought and its object, as together in essential correlation constituting the real; but this way he did not take. The other was to avoid them by merging both thing and idea in the indifference of simple feeling . . . -- an attempt which contradicts itself, since it virtually admits [the] existence [of such oppositions as inner and outer, subjective and objective] while it renders them unaccountable." [_Hume and Locke_, 1968 Apollo edition, pp. 140-142.]

This summary may not be quite adequate to Berkeley's thought overall, as later in life he does appear to have come round to a view not altogether unlike Green's. However, it seems to me to be an eminently fair assessment of the Berkeley represented in the present volume.

At any rate Berkeley was a fascinating thinker and this volume is as good an introduction to him as is available. The _Dialogues_ should eventually be read in conjunction with the _Principles_ (which they were intended to support), but anyone looking for a single volume in which to meet this great and seminal philosopher will be safe in beginning with this one.

George Berkeley: Critical Assessments (Routledge Critical Assessments)
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George Berkeley: Critical Assessments (Routledge Critical Assessments)
Walter Creery
Manufacturer: TF-ROUTL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0415020921

Book Description

During the past thirty years, scholars and commentators have produced a flood of articles and books on almost every aspect and feature of Berkeley's work. There are, however, very few points on which these commentators agree. Since the debate shows no signs of abating, Walter Creery has gathered together a collection of the more significant articles in this extremely useful and accessible form.

These three volumes gather together eighty-seven articles on Berkeley's views on the central issues of the philosophy of language, the theory of vision, qualities, general ideas, matter, the theory of mind, and notions. The collection contains articles both harshly critical of Berkeley as well as those sympathetic with the philosopher's views, and there has been an attempt to balance the selection between the immaterialist and idealist theories.

Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Phil (Penguin Classics)

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Excellent edition
Immaterialism and Common Sense

Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Phil (Penguin Classics)
George Berkeley , and Roger Woolhouse
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140432930

Customer Reviews:

Excellent edition.......2006-07-13

The main text of any edition of Principles/Three Dialogues will be virtually the same, but this one is especially good for its superb introduction, by Roger Woolhouse. I can't imagine that there is anywhere a better short introduction to Berkeley's thought, the issues that motivated his work, and where he fits into the history of philosophy both before and after his time.

Berkeley really was a radical thinker, following the premises of others, like Descartes and Locke, to their logical, and deeply troubling, implications. He was out to defeat skepticism, which he saw as corrosive of religion, yet ended up a primary representative of the skeptical view. As Woolhouse points out, modern phenomenalism can find roots in Berkeley, and perhaps even the logical empiricism of the Vienna Circle. If someone were just starting out reading Western philosophy and wondered where to begin, I would recommend Berkeley as the best place to start.

Immaterialism and Common Sense.......2001-08-24

George Berkeley's early 18th century treatise "Of the Principles of Human Knowledge" was written in response to the current popular philosophical leanings of Locke, Descartes, Hobbes, Malebranche, and others. Berkeley's major problem with the philosophy of his age was in its materialist leanings. Berkeley at base had issues with the indefinite nature of philosophical terminology, and the ways in which the foundations of knowledge seemed to be centered on unknowable concepts like 'abstract truths,' 'matter,' and 'absolute' entities. The solution?

Berkeley reasons that philosophy has gotten away from common sense, and that the way to make philosophy and natural science more accessible is to use the vocabulary and understanding of the 'vulgar' masses. Berkeley's philosophy is called Immaterialism. He holds that the only things that can properly be said to exist are 'ideas' and 'spirits.' Ideas are all objects perceived by our five senses or by logic and inference from those objects. Spirits are our minds or souls, those things that perceive, think, and exercise will. He says that all other philosophical terminology only tends to confuse us. We cannot doubt the real existence of anything in the world, because we see, feel, hear, touch, and taste these things every day. What we can doubt are philosophical quandaries like abstract ideas - for existence, while we can think of a particular person in motion, we can neither conceive of a person in abstract nor of motion in general. This, Berkeley contends, is all that common sense gives to the plainest of people. Ordinary people do not doubt the existence of trees or gloves, nor do they conjecture about matter or substrata underlying the things they interact with everyday.

The 'Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous' serve to support the philosophical arguments that Berkeley made in the 'Principles.' Hylas is a materialist, while Philonous represents Berkeley's immaterialist argument. Their three dialogues are extremely entertaining and informative. They compliment the technical philosophy by providing concrete examples, which are many times missing from Berkeley's treatise. While the treatise and the dialogues can be read and understood on their own, the fullest appreciation of Berkelely comes from reading both. One limitation of Berkeley is that his 'vulgar' notions are almost too simplistic. He takes Occom's razor almost to the point of absurdity, which causes him to dispute notions like gravity, which these days one may well frown upon. Other than matters of advanced mathematical or scientific complexity, however, Berkeley's immaterialism seems, on the surface, to make great sense.

Another interesting facet of these two works is their religious component. An Anglican bishop, Berkeley makes use of his belief in God both to support his arguments, and uses immaterialist arguments to simply (far more simply than Descartes) prove the existence of God. Not quite an enthralling read, but, who reads philosophy to be enthralled? The arguments are interesting, the arguments well-supported, and possible objections deftly handled.

Three Essays on Religion
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Three Essays on Religion
John Stuart Mill
Manufacturer: Greenwood Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0837119863

Berkeley's Revolution in Vision
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An informative account of Berkeley's theory of vision

Berkeley's Revolution in Vision
Margaret Atherton
Manufacturer: Cornell University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Berkeley's Thought

A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (Oxford Philosophical Texts)

ASIN: 0801423589

Book Description

Berkeley's Essay towards a New Theory of Vision (1709), his first substantial publication, revolutionized the theory of vision. His approach provided the framework for subsequent work in the psychology of vision and remains influential to this day. Among philosophers, however, the New Theory has not always been read as a landmark in the history of scientific thought, but instead as a halfway house to Berkeley's later metaphysics. In this book, Margaret Atherton seeks to redress the balance through a commentary on and a reinterpretation of Berkeley's New Theory.

Customer Reviews:

An informative account of Berkeley's theory of vision.......2000-11-06

This is an excellent and very informative account of Berkeley's theory of vision - a topic that deserves to be studied on its own and not only (as has often been the case) as a minor side of his subjective idealism. Atherton's book is a must for all students of Berkeley and highly recommendable to those who are interested in the philosophical aspects of the theory of vision or in the development of epistemology in early modern philosophy.

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