Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
Audiobook3 hours

A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge

Written by George Berkeley

Narrated by Jonathan Cowley

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

First published in 1710, George Berkeley's A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge is a seminal contribution to Empiricist philosophy. Making the bold assertion that the physical world consists only of ideas and thus does not exist outside the mind, this work establishes Berkeley as the founder of the immaterialist school of thought. A major influence on such later philosophers as David Hume and Immanuel Kant, Berkeley's ideas have played a role in such diverse fields as mathematics and metaphysics and continue to spark debate today.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 30, 2011
ISBN9781452674681

Related to A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge

Related audiobooks

Philosophy For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge

Rating: 3.6867470337349397 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

83 ratings3 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In a sentence, matter doesn't exist. This audiobook was a good tool to help me with the reading.

    The Treatise is considered a "Great Work of the Western World".
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Those familiar with Norton's series of critical editions might be startled by the layout of this volume; since the critical essays precede the text, instead of following behind at a properly obsequious distance. Please do not be enticed into following this format. Turn immediately to the Principles, for if you start with the critical material you will likely never reach the promised land. Berkeley had many original things to say, and he was gifted with an excellent prose style. Neither, unfortunately, was passed along to all of his commentators; although I did particularly enjoy the essay "The place of God in Berkeley's philosophy", by J. D. Mabbott.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    In his introduction, David Armstrong argues that Berkeley is studied because he was a trailblazer in philosophical thought, despite the fact that his assumptions are invalid. Berkeley actually made multiple attempts to convince others of his thesis, following this essay with a more casual style in his "Three Dialogues." I found Berkeley very difficult to read, mostly because the meaning of specific terms seems to shift throughout the argument. Perhaps better scholars than I are able to follow the flow. Nonetheless, I hold to the conviction that part of our advance in argument has come about through the use of more specific terms. The point with which I am most in agreement is more of an aside by Berkeley -- that man tends to over-complicate thinking and therefore loses the true meaning behind many things. Unfortunately, he seems to do the same within the pages after that point. Even if all of his points held, he results in a metaphyisical world that appears and disappears as we blink. Berkeley goes on to expound upon certain possibilities, such as God also perceiving that the objects exist and thus holding that they always exist.