Berkeley: An Interpretation

This densely argued, scholarly, and detailed analysis of his account of perception and related metaphysical issues is a welcome addition to the literature.

• Part 1 Words and ideas: two kinds of signs; ideas as objects; ideas as images; representation and signification. Part 2 Abstract ideas: the argument; objections and replies; abstract ideas as images; abstract ideas as objects; does Berkeley blunder in reading Locke? Part 3 Simple ideas: the search for a simple idea; simplicity and abstraction; consequences. Part 4 Necessity: simple and complex ideas; demonstration, necessity and certainty; an anachronistic hypothesis?; Berkeley's response. Part 5 Cause and effect: Berkeley on the causal relation; necessary connection; the account defended. Part 6 Immaterialism: the argument of "Principles 4"; immediate perception; a commentary on the first dialogue; the argument of "Principles 3"; against matter; the master argument; materialism and abstraction; Berkeley's phenomenalism. Part 7 Unperceived objects: two interpretations; the denial of blind agency; two objections; archetypes; archetypes in "Siris"; Mabbott's objections to divine ideas. Part 8 Corpuscularianism: the corpuscularian background; primary and secondary qualities; immaterial corpuscles. Part 9 Spirit: the parity objection; an alleged incoherence; the mind and its acts.