The Oxford Handbook of BerkeleySamuel Charles Rickless The Oxford Handbook of Berkeley is a compendious examination of a vast array of topics in the philosophy of George Berkeley (1685-1753), Anglican Bishop of Cloyne, the famous idealist and most illustrious Irish philosopher. Berkeley is best known for his denial of the existence of material substance and his insistence that the only things that exist in the universe are minds (including God) and their ideas; however, Berkeley was a polymath who contributed to a variety of different disciplines, not well distinguished from philosophy in the eighteenth century, including the theory and psychology of vision, the nature and functioning of language, the debate over infinitesimals in mathematics, political philosophy, economics, chemistry (including his favoured panacea, tar-water), and theology. This volume includes contributions from thirty-four expert commentators on Berkeley's philosophy, some of whom provide a state-of-the-art account of his philosophical achievements, and some of whom place his philosophy in historical context by comparing and contrasting it with the views of his contemporaries (including Mandeville, Collier, and Edwards), as well as with philosophers who preceded him (such as Descartes, Locke, Malebranche, and Leibniz) and others who succeeded him (such as Hume, Reid, Kant, and Shepherd). |
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abstract ideas according action active appears argues argument believe Berkeley Berkeley’s bodies called causal cause claim clear common conceive conception Concerning consider criticism deny depend Descartes discussion distance distinction doctrine edited effect Essay example existence experience explain extension external fact figure finite follows force geometry given holds human Hume idealism ideas imagination immediately infinite interpretation kind knowledge language laws Locke Locke’s material matter means mental metaphysical mind moral motion namely nature notes objects Oxford particular passive perceived perception Philosophy political position possible present primary Principles problem properties qualities question reason reference Reid relation represent requires secondary qualities seems sensations sense sensible sensible qualities simple space spirit substance suggests supposed tangible theory things thought tion true understanding University Press vision visual writes