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An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision

By George Berkeley
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Philosophy & Ethics

About This Book

The essay argues that sight does not directly convey distance, magnitude, or external location; instead the mind learns to associate visual sensations with tactile and bodily experiences. It challenges optical accounts that locate distance in lines, angles, or divergent rays, and distinguishes distinct from confused vision by the meeting of refracted rays on the retina. Through thought experiments and engagement with contemporaneous optical theories the author explains how eye movements, image confusion, and experience jointly produce judgments of distance and apparent size, and applies the view to puzzles about reflection, refraction, and perceptual illusions.

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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