Philosopher Profiles
George Berkeley
(1685 — 1753)
George Berkeley (pronounced “Bark-lee” for some God-forsaken reason) is famous for his ontological idealism: the claim that all of reality is simply mind and spirit. This made Berkeley less than popular down at the pub where he would refuse to buy his round because it was all in his head anyway.
Sadly, Berkeley could be quite cruel: historians have documented many occasions where Berkely and David Hume would pick on John Locke, giving him wedgies and wet-willies, and perpetually asking him “Where's your material sub-strata now, Lockey? Where is it?!”.
Written By: Ian Church, Mark Wales
Created: 29th January, 2008 | Last Updated: —
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(Image of George Berkeley is public domain.)
Photograph
Berkeley could often be found playing a rousing game of ‘Point at the hand’.
Stats
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Main Contributions:
Ontological Idealism -
Quotation:
“All the choir of heaven and furniture of earth - in a word, all those bodies which compose the frame of the world - have not any subsistence without a mind.” -
Key Areas:
Philosophy in general, Mathematics -
Annoying Habits:
Unexpectedly introducing people to the idea of his right-hook. Trying to walk through his idea of a wall. -
Nicknames:
The Berk
Top Trumps
- Beard: 0
- Fame: 4
- Logic: 3
- Readability: 4
- Contribution: 4
