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A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge

By George Berkeley
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Philosophy & Ethics

About This Book

The treatise examines the foundations of human knowledge and argues that all ideas originate in perception, so what are called external objects are merely collections of sensible qualities experienced by minds. It denies the need for a material substratum and maintains that the continuity and regularity of experience are accounted for by a divine perceiver who sustains perceptions. The author distinguishes ideas of sensation from those arising by reflection and criticizes the appeal to abstract general ideas as a source of philosophical error. Through systematic argument and attention to first principles and language, the work defends an immaterialist account of reality and addresses skepticism, irreligion, and the soul’s natural immortality.

About the Author

Berkeley, George portrait

George Berkeley

George Berkeley (1685-1753) was an Irish philosopher and bishop known for his contributions to the development of idealism and empiricism. His most notable work, "A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge," challenges the materialist view of reality, proposing that objects only exist as perceptions in the mind. Berkeley also explored the nature of vision in "An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision," where he examined how we perceive distance and depth. His philosophical dialogues, particularly "Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous," engage with skepticism and atheism, showcasing his commitment to the interplay between faith and reason. Berkeley's ideas have significantly influenced modern philosophy and continue to be studied for their innovative approach to perception and existence.

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