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

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

George Berkeley

Language: English

Pages: 224

ISBN: 0140432930

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Whether viewed as extreme skepticism or enlightened common sense, the writings of Berkeley are a major influence on modern philosophy. Bishop Berkeley (1685-1753) was one of the great British empirical philosophers. He believed that the existence of material objects depends on their being perceived and The Principles of Human Knowledge sets out this denial of non-mental material reality. At first his views were unfavorably received by the London intelligentsia, and the entertaining Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous are a clarification of the Realist argument and a response to accusations of atheism and skepticism. In the nineteenth century John Stuart Mill wrote that he considered Berkeley's work to be of "greatest philosophic genius," and it is true to say that its Immaterialism has influenced many recent philosophers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

xxxiv Introduction Berkeley an d Hum e i s that Berkele y i s implicitly acceptin g that ther e ar e a prior i probabilitie s relevan t t o matter s o f fact—that is , tha t consideration s o f wha t i s possible ca n b e enough on their own to influence probability, without furthe r information abou t ho w things actually work. This is too diffi cult a question t o investigat e here.10 In general , Berkelia n idealis m differ s fro m sceptica l phenomenalism i n it s attitud e toward s spirit

guilt y o f n o innovation in that respect. All the difference is , that according to us the unthinking beings perceived by sense, have no existence distinct from being perceived, and cannot therefore exis t in an y othe r substance , tha n thos e unextended , indivisible substances, or spirits, which act, and think, and perceive them: whereas philosophers vulgarly hold, that the sensible qualities exist i n a n inert , extended , unperceivin g substance , whic h they call matter, to which they

m those rules, seem to consider signs rather than causes. A man 72 Principles: Part I may wel l understan d natura l sign s withou t knowin g thei r analogy, o r bein g abl e t o sa y b y wha t rul e a thin g i s s o o r so. And a s it is very possible to write improperly, through to o strict a n observanc e o f general grammar-rules : so in arguing from genera l rule s o f Nature , i t i s no t impossibl e w e ma y extend th e analog y to o far , an d b y tha t mean s ru n int o mistakes.

reasonable creature, who is not brough t to it by gentle an d slo w degrees, a s a converted Gentil e t o the belief Principles: Part I 8 1 of transubstantiation. Ancient and rooted prejudices d o ofte n pass into principles: and those propositions which once obtai n the forc e an d credi t o f a principle, ar e no t onl y themselves , but likewis e whatever is deducible fro m them , though t privileged fro m al l examination . An d ther e i s n o absurdit y s o gross, whic h b y thi s mean s

spiritual is therefore purel y intelligible, or capabl e o f being the im mediate objec t o f a spirit' s thought . Besides , th e divin e essence contain s i n i t perfection s corresponden t t o eac h created being ; an d whic h ar e fo r tha t reaso n prope r t o exhibit or represent the m t o the mind. P H T L O N O U S . I do not understan d ho w our ideas , which are things altogethe r passiv e an d inert , ca n be th e essence , o r any par t (o r lik e any part ) o f th e essenc e o r

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