A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human KnowledgeThe Oxford Philosophical Texts series consists of authoritative teaching editions of canonical texts in the History of Philosophy from the ancient world down to modern times. Each volume, issued in a uniform and affordable paperback format, provides a clear, well laid out text together with a comprehensive introduction by a leading specialist, giving the student detailed critical guidance on the intellectual context of the work and the structure and philosophical importance of the main arguments. Endnotes are supplied to expand further on the arguments and explain unfamiliar references and terminology, and a full bibliography and index are also included. The series aims to build up a definitive corpus of key texts in the Western philosophical tradition, which will form a reliable and enduring resource for students and teachers alike. In his Principles of Human Knowledge Berkeley makes the striking claim that physical things consist of nothing but ideas, and so do not exist outside the mind. This establishes Berkeley as the founder of the idealist tradition in philosophy. Berkeley argues vigorously that once we correct our understanding of the physical, we can find a new proof of the existence of God, refute sceptical attacks on human knowledge, and resolve many difficulties and paradoxes raised by the advance of science. The text printed in this volume is the 1734 edition of the Principles which is generally agreed to represent Berkeley's mature thought. Also included are the four important letters between George Berkeley and Samuel Johnson, written in 1729-30. The text is supplemented by a comprehensive introduction which looks at the structure and main arguments of the text, as well as discussing Berkeley's life, influences, and general philosophy. In addition the volume includes an analysis of the text, a glossary, detailed notes, and a full bibliography with guidance on further reading. This new edition of Berkeley's most famous work, published alongside his other masterpiece, the Three Dialogues (also edited by Jonathan Dancy) provides the student with a thorough introduction to the central ideas of one of the world's greatest philosophers. |
Contents
How to Use this Book | 3 |
The Text Printed in this Edition | 70 |
Analysis of the Principles | 76 |
Copyright | |
9 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
absolute space abstract general ideas abstract idea Alciphron answer appear archetypes argument atheism believe body ceived claim colour conceive conception concerning consider corporeal substance created minds deny Descartes difficulty distance distinct divine doctrine of abstract doth edition Editor's Introduction effect evident existence of material explain extension external figure finite finite extension frame George Berkeley God's hath ideas of sense imagine impossible infinitely divisible Intro Johnson Jonathan Dancy language Locke Malebranche material substance material things matter meaning mechanical move natura naturans natural events Newton objects paragraph particular perceived by sense perception philo philosophers physical things possible primary qualities Principles Pyrrho question real things reason relation resemble Samuel Johnson scepticism Scholium secondary qualities Sect seems sensible qualities sensible things shewn signified signs sort soul spirit stand substratum suppose tence Theory of Vision thought tion triangle true truth understand unthinking wherein words