An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision

by George Berkeley

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Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Empiricism

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1709

About the author

George Berkeley (/ˈbɑːrklɪ/;[1][2] 12 March 1685 – 14 January 1753) — known as Bishop Berkeley (Bishop of Cloyne) — was an Anglo-Irish philosopher whose primary achievement was the advancement of a theory he called "immaterialism" (later referred to as "subjective idealism" by others). This theory denies the existence of material substance and instead contends that familiar objects like tables and chairs are only ideas in the minds of perceivers, and as a result cannot exist without being perceived. Berkeley is also known for his critique of abstraction, an important premise in his argument for immaterialism.

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

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Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fellow philosophy student once told me that this book made him want to knock on doors and convert people to belief in God. I understand that. Berkeley weaves a theory of vision that depends on God's existence, and is shockingly difficult to refute. It depends on solipsism, which makes it insidious for overly cognitive philosophy majors, and informed many later philosophers. The problems he poses are immensely difficult, and still being answered.

Best part is the need for interaction to perceive. So true. Perception relies upon relations, not upon objects themselves; makes such sense.

[Kei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommendable for those who want to have a highly thought provoking reading experience!

[Mr Siegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to perceive the world without having ideas forced upon us?

[Lettrice Scarsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ho dovuto leggere questo testo per un esame universitario. E' un saggio del 18esimo secolo. Il testo inzia con una polemica contro gli ottici che pensano si possa conoscere la distanza tra l'occhio e il soggetto tramite l'angolo che si viene a creare tra i due.

Berkeley, in maniera anche ironica, ribadisce che da nessun oggetto partono linee o angoli. Noi non vediamo geomtricamente, e la vista senza il tatto non direbbe nulla. Un quadro può rappresentare un oggetto tridimensionale, ma rimane comunque una figura piana, liscia al tatto. Il fatto che siamo in grado di riconoscere alla vista un oggetto tridimensionale è perché nella quotidinanità abituale ne abbiamo toccati tanti, abbiamo esperito le varie dimensioni di un, che so, cubo.

Il testo ha la sua età ma il discorso è geniale: nel procedere con qualsiasi astrazione, mai perdere contatto con la realtà materiale. In ultima istanza, è la realtà il banco di prova di qualsiasi teoria.

[Stephen Antczak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting early attempt to develop a theory of vision.