Abstract
A CRITIC of this biography has doubted whether the life of a philosopher could be worth such a solid volume He must have been thinking in terms of the model nineteenth-century philosopher, who oscillated between study and lecture room and produced a complete system of the universe in ten volumes or a commentary on somebody else's system in even more volumes. Eighteenth-century philosophers and philosophy were not built to this model. Berkeley in his own view was first a Churchman, second an Irishman and third a philosopher. His important philosophical writings were designed to combat certain fashionable doctrines which he saw to be causes of infidelity and immorality. Posterity may regret that Berkeley's philosophy is not more constructive ; but sensible men do not worry about posterity, finding their own age enough to cope with. The most important of his other writings are those of a patriotic Irishman urging his countrymen (Catholic as well as Protestant) to make the best of the Hanoverian settlement, and endeavouring to improve their economic condition. The very pertinent questions posed by Berkeley in “The Querist"undoubtedly stimulated Hume and Adam Smith and contributed to founding economic theory. In addition, he made his house and glebe at Cloyne (with the valuable help of Mrs. Berkeley) an example of good husbandry and industrial enterprise for the benefit of the whole countryside.
The Life of George Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne
By Dr. A. A. Luce. (Bibliotheca Britannica Philosophica.) Pp. xi + 260 + 13 plates. (London and Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons, Ltd., 1949.) 25s. net.
Enjoying our latest content?
Log in or create an account to continue
- Access the most recent journalism from Nature's award-winning team
- Explore the latest features & opinion covering groundbreaking research
or
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
RITCHIE, A. Ex Hibernia Lux. Nature 164, 634–635 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/164634a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/164634a0
