Definition

Proper noun: - George Berkeley: An 18th-century Irish philosopher and Anglican Bishop, renowned for his immaterialist philosophy which argues that physical objects only exist as perceptions in minds and for the mind of God. He is a key figure in the empiricist tradition.

Usage

• Proper noun:
  • George Berkeley is best known for his principle "esse est percipi" (to be is to be perceived).
  • The philosophical works of George Berkeley continue to be studied in universities today.

Advanced Usage

• Berkeleian (adj): Of or relating to the philosophy of George Berkeley.
  • His arguments had a distinctly Berkeleian flavor.
• Berkeleianism (n): The philosophical system developed by George Berkeley.
  • The lecture provided an overview of Berkeleianism.

Variants and Related Words

• Bishop Berkeley: An alternative reference emphasizing his clerical role.
• Berkeleyan: A less common variant spelling of "Berkeleian."

Synonyms

• The Bishop of Cloyne: A title referring to his ecclesiastical position.
• The Irish Empiricist: A descriptor highlighting his philosophical school and nationality.

Related Phrases

• "esse est percipi": The Latin phrase encapsulating Berkeley's core philosophical idea that existence is contingent on perception.
  • The debate centered on the implications of "esse est percipi."

Noun

1. Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop who opposed the materialism of Thomas Hobbes (1685-1753)