George Berkeley

Date of Birth: March 12, 1685

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: January 14, 1753

Biography

George Berkeley was an Anglo-Irish philosopher best known for his theory of immaterialism, which he later referred to as “idealism.” Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, Berkeley attended Kilkenny College and later Trinity College, Dublin, where he excelled in mathematics and philosophy. His most notable work, “A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge” (1710), argues that the physical world exists only in the perceptions of the mind and that reality is fundamentally mental. Berkeley’s philosophical contributions have had a lasting impact on the field of metaphysics and epistemology, influencing later philosophers like David Hume and Immanuel Kant. In addition to his philosophical endeavors, Berkeley was deeply committed to the Anglican Church. He served as the Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland from 1734 until his death. He also embarked on a mission to establish a college in Bermuda to spread Christianity and education in the New World, although this plan ultimately did not come to fruition.

5 Interesting Facts about George Berkeley

1. Berkeley proposed that the existence of the material world is dependent on being perceived (“esse est percipi”).

2. He authored several philosophical works, including “Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous” (1713).

3. Berkeley’s trip to America included a stay in Rhode Island, where he bought a plantation and wrote “Alciphron.”

4. He influenced the later development of subjective idealism and was a precursor to phenomenology.

5. The city of Berkeley, California, and its university are named in his honor.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Berkeley

1. “To be is to be perceived; and hence we can have no knowledge of the existence of anything that is not perceived.”

2. “All those bodies which compose the mighty frame of the world have not any subsistence without a mind.”

3. “The only thing that exists is consciousness, and the contents of consciousness.”

4. “We have first raised a dust and then complain we cannot see.”

5. “The same principles which at first view lead to skepticism, pursued to a certain point, bring men back to common sense.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

There is no historical record of the precise net worth achieved by George Berkeley during his lifetime. As he was a philosopher and a bishop, his wealth would likely have come from his ecclesiastical position rather than any significant personal fortune.

Children

George Berkeley had several children with his wife Anne Forster. Their children included Henry Berkeley, George Berkeley Jr., and Julia Berkeley, among others. Unfortunately, detailed records of all his children are scarce.