What’s the Matter with Berkeley? An Epistemological Folly

Berkeley is famous for denying the existence of matter and unperceived things except in God’s eternal mind. Although his subjective idealism (immaterialism) is dismissed and rejected, he is commonly ranked among the great modern philosophers. My analysis questions his epistemic relativism and skepticism, and presents new critical arguments against spiritual immaterialism, and his theory of God that are relevant today. Discussion of the essential place of God is crucial yet neglected and my article fills this lacuna. Berkeley’s skepticism of scientific principles, and devotion to literal Scripture falsifies and misguides his thought. Against the tradition, I argue that as a bishop, his major purpose and motivation was to validate and strengthen God’s absolute necessity in the world. Berkeley’s dubious yet intriguing immaterialism raises dissent against his legendary status. He influenced Enlightenment philosophy and beyond, albeit critically, especially Hume and Kant. It is past time for a fresh reevaluation of his contribution and niche in the history of philosophy.