Starting With Berkeley

George Berkeley (1685-1753) was one of the influential philosophers in the history of Western thought. This title presents an introduction to Berkeley, guiding the student through the key concepts of his work by examining the overall development of Berkeley's ideas. It introduces the major philosophical figures that influenced Berkeley's thinking. George Berkeley (1685-1753) was one of the most important and influential philosophers in the history of Western thought. He is most famous for his controversial denial of the existence of matter, and for his idealism the claim that everyday objects are simply collections of ideas in the mind. Starting with Berkeley provides a detailed overview of Berkeley's philosophy, a user-friendly guide to the interpretation of his arguments, and the opportunity for the reader to critically engage with Berkeleys philosophical moves via an examination of some of the common objections which have been raised against them. Crucially, the book also introduces the major philosophical figures and theories that influenced and inspired Berkeleys thinking and gives a clear sense of the controversy that surrounds the interpretation and evaluation of his ideas. Nick Jones explores the full range of Berkeleys key philosophical concepts in this ideal introduction for anyone coming to the work of Berkeley for the first time.