George Berkeley
George Berkeley (pronounced BARK-lee), known as Bishop Berkeley, was born on 12 March 1685 in Ireland and died on 14 January 1753. He was a prominent Anglo-Irish philosopher, theologian, and clergyman, best known for his development of the philosophical theory of immaterialism. This theory posits that material objects do not exist independently of our perception of them, a viewpoint later referred to as subjective idealism.
Life and Career
Berkeley was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church of Ireland. In 1734, he was nominated to be the Bishop of Cloyne, a position he held until 1752. During his tenure as bishop, he became interested in the use of tar-water, a distilled solution of pine tar, which he advocated as a cure-all remedy for various diseases. His book on tar-water, published in 1744, became his most popular work during his lifetime.
Berkeley's commitment to education is well-documented. After his retirement, he moved to Oxford to live with his son, George Berkeley Jr., and supervised his education. His legacy in education extends to the University of California, Berkeley, and Berkeley College at Yale University, both of which are named in his honor.
Philosophical Contributions
Berkeley's immaterialism emerged as a response to the empiricism of philosophers like John Locke. He argued that objects only exist as perceptions in the mind; thus, their existence is dependent on being perceived by a conscious observer. This radical idea challenged the traditional notion of substance and posed significant implications for the understanding of reality.
His arguments are primarily found in works such as "A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge" and "Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous", where he eloquently defended his theory against skepticism and materialism.
Personal Life
Berkeley married Anne Forster, with whom he had several children. However, only four—Henry, George, William, and Julia—survived infancy. The death of his son William in 1751 was a great personal tragedy for him.
Legacy
Berkeley's influence extends beyond philosophy. His ideas have impacted various fields including psychology, theology, and even the development of computer science concepts like virtual reality, which echoes his theories about perception and existence.
The city of Berkeley, California, and Berkeley College at Yale University, bear his name, reflecting his enduring impact on education and philosophical thought.