GEORGE BERKELEY

(1685-1753)

Few readers in the United States are unfamiliar with the lines, “Westward the course of empire takes its way.”  It is vaguely remembered that a certain Bishop Berkeley was the author of a treatise on tar-water.  There is moreover a general impression that this Bishop Berkeley contended for the unreality of all things outside of his own mind, and now and then some recall Byron’s lines—­

     “When Bishop Berkeley said ‘there was no matter,’
     And proved it,—­’twas no matter what he said.”

This is the substance of the popular knowledge of one of the profoundest thinkers of the early part of the eighteenth century,—­the time of Shaftesbury and Locke, of Addison and Steele, of Butler, Pope, and Swift,—­one of the most fascinating men of his day, and one of the best of any age.  Beside, or rather above, Byron’s line should be placed Pope’s tribute:—­

     “To Berkeley, every virtue under Heaven.”

[Illustration:  GEORGE BERKELEY.]

Berkeley was born in Ireland, probably at Dysart Castle in the Valley of the Nore, near Kilkenny, March 12, 1685.  The family having but lately come into Ireland, Berkeley always accounted himself an Englishman.  At Kilkenny School he met the poet Prior, who became his intimate friend, his business representative, and his most regular correspondent for life.  Swift preceded him at this school and at Trinity College, Dublin, whither Berkeley went March 21, 1700, being then fifteen years of age.  Here as at Kilkenny he took rank much beyond his years, and was soon deep in philosophical speculations.

In Professor Fraser’s edition of the ‘Life and Works of Berkeley’ appears a ‘Common-Place Book,’ kept during the Trinity College terms, and full of most remarkable memoranda for a youth of his years.  In 1709, while still at Trinity, he published an ’Essay toward a New Theory of Vision,’ which foreshadowed imperfectly his leading ideas.  In the following year he published a ’Treatise concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge.’  Two or three years later he went to London, where he was received with unusual favor and quickly became intimate in the literary circles of the day.  He made friends everywhere, being attractive in all ways, young, handsome, graceful, fascinating in discourse, enthusiastic, and full of thought.  Swift was especially impressed by him, and did much to further his fortunes.

His philosophical conceptions he at this time popularized in ’Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous,’ a work rated by some critics as at the head of its class.