The Works of George Berkeley. Vol. 1 of 4: Philosophical Works, 1705-21 by Berkeley

(2 User reviews)   2278
By Abil Kile Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Adventure
Berkeley, George, 1685-1753 Berkeley, George, 1685-1753
English
Ever wondered if that tree in the yard exists when you're not looking at it? In the early 1700s, a brilliant young Irish philosopher named George Berkeley asked that exact question—and his answer will mess with your head. This collection of his early work argues that the physical world isn't made of solid, independent stuff, but is entirely dependent on being perceived. It's a radical, mind-bending idea that challenges everything we take for granted about reality. Forget dense textbooks; this is philosophy as a thrilling intellectual rebellion. If you're ready to question the very nature of what's real, Berkeley is your provocative and surprisingly readable guide.
Share

Read "The Works of George Berkeley. Vol. 1 of 4: Philosophical Works, 1705-21 by Berkeley" Online

This book is available in the public domain. Start reading the digital edition below.

START READING FULL BOOK
Instant Access    Mobile Friendly

Book Preview

A short preview of the book’s content is shown below to give you an idea of its style and themes.

that his Works contain a word in season, even for the twentieth century. Among others who have delivered appreciative criticisms of Berkeley within the last thirty years are J.S. Mill, Mansel, Huxley, T.H. Green, Maguire, Collyns Simon, the Right Hon. A.J. Balfour, Mr. Leslie Stephen, Dr. Hutchison Stirling, Professor T.K. Abbott, Professor Van der Wyck, M. Penjon, Ueberweg, Frederichs, Ulrici, Janitsch, Eugen Meyer, Spicker, Loewy, Professor Höffding of Copenhagen, Dr. Lorenz, Noah Porter, and Krauth, besides essays in the chief British, Continental, and American reviews. The text of those Works of Berkeley which were published during his lifetime, enriched with a biographical Introduction by Mr. A.J. Balfour, carefully edited by Mr. George Sampson, appeared in 1897. In 1900 Dr. R. Richter, of the University of Leipsic, produced a new translation into German of the _Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous_, with an excellent Introduction and notes. These estimates form a remarkable contrast to the denunciations, founded on misconception, by Warburton and Beattie in the eighteenth century. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ In 1899 I was unexpectedly again asked by the Delegates of the Oxford University Press to prepare a New Edition of Berkeley’s Works, with some account of his life, as the edition of 1871 was out of print; a circumstance which I had not expected to occur in my lifetime. It seemed presumptuous to undertake what might have been entrusted to some one probably more in touch with living thought; and in one’s eighty-second year, time and strength are wanting for remote research. But the recollection that I was attracted to philosophy largely by Berkeley, in the morning of life more than sixty years ago, combined with the pleasure derived from association in this way with the great University in which he found an academic home in his old age, moved me in the late evening of life to make the attempt. And now, at the beginning of the twentieth century, I offer these volumes, which still imperfectly realise my ideal of a final Oxford edition of the philosopher who spent his last days in Oxford, and whose mortal remains rest in its Cathedral. Since 1871 materials of biographical and philosophical interest have been discovered, in addition to the invaluable collection of MSS. which Archdeacon Rose then placed at my disposal, and which were included in the supplementary volume of _Life and Letters_. Through the kindness of the late Earl of Egmont I had access, some years ago, to a large number of letters which passed between his ancestor, Sir John (afterwards Lord) Percival, and Berkeley, between 1709 and 1730. I have availed myself freely of this correspondence. Some interesting letters from and concerning Berkeley, addressed to his friend Dr. Samuel Johnson of Stratford in Connecticut, afterwards President of King’s College in New York, appeared in 1874, in Dr. Beardsley’s _Life of Johnson_, illustrating Berkeley’s history from 1729 till his death. For these and for further information I am indebted to Dr. Beardsley. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ In the present edition of Berkeley’s Works, the Introductions and the annotations have been mostly re-written. A short account of his romantic life is prefixed, intended to trace its progress in the gradual development and application of his initial Principle; and also the external incidents of his life in their continuity, with the help of the new material in the Percival MSS. and the correspondence with Johnson. It forms a key to the whole. This biography is not intended to supersede the _Life and Letters_ of Berkeley that accompanied the 1871 edition, which remains as a magazine of facts for reference. The rearrangement of the Works is a feature in...

This is a limited preview. Download the book to read the full content.

This isn't a novel with a plot, but the story here is the explosive development of one of philosophy's most radical ideas. In his early twenties, Berkeley published works like An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision and his most famous, A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge. His core argument? That objects only exist insofar as they are perceived by a mind. That apple, that chair, the mountain in the distance—they aren't independently existing lumps of matter. Their 'to be is to be perceived' (or esse est percipi). He's not saying things disappear when you blink; he argues a divine, eternal mind (God) perceives everything constantly, holding all of reality in existence.

Why You Should Read It

Berkeley's philosophy feels like a magic trick. At first, it sounds absurd. But then he starts building his case, and you realize how many of our assumptions about a solid, external world are just that—assumptions. Reading him is an active, engaging experience. You'll find yourself arguing with the pages, testing his ideas against your own experience. It’s less about dry theory and more about a direct challenge to your everyday perception. The clarity and confidence of his writing, especially for such a wild idea, is genuinely impressive.

Final Verdict

Perfect for curious readers who enjoy big, 'what if' questions and don't mind having their reality gently (or not-so-gently) shaken. It's great for anyone interested in the roots of modern philosophy, psychology, or even physics. You don't need a PhD to get into it—just a willingness to play along with a brilliant, counterintuitive thought experiment that still sparks debate 300 years later.



ℹ️ Copyright Free

This digital edition is based on a public domain text. Access is open to everyone around the world.

Charles Gonzalez
1 year ago

This book was worth my time since it manages to explain difficult concepts in plain English. I will read more from this author.

Robert Allen
1 year ago

Clear and concise.

3.5
3.5 out of 5 (2 User reviews )

Add a Review

Your Rating *
There are no comments for this eBook.
You must log in to post a comment.
Log in


Related eBooks