--in which I can find no ground vacant and unsown, so diligent
have men been, either in sowing of seed or tares.

* * * * *

GEORGE BERKELEY

PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

George Berkeley, the metaphysician, was born on March 12,
1685, near Thomastown, Kilkenny, the son of a collector of
revenue. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, at the age of
fifteen, and was admitted Fellow in 1707. In that year he
published two mathematical essays; two years later, his
"Theory of Vision," and in 1710 his "Principles of Human
Knowledge." In 1713, in London, where he had published further
philosophical papers, he formed the acquaintance of Steele,
Swift, and Pope. After travels in Europe he became chaplain to
the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in 1721, and a few years after
emigrated to Newport, Rhode Island, with a view to the
establishment of a college in Bermuda for the education of
Indians. This scheme fell through, because of the failure of
the promised government support. Berkeley returned to London,
and in 1734, by desire of Queen Caroline, was consecrated
Bishop of Cloyne, in Ireland. Here he lived until 1752, but
spent his last months in retirement at Oxford, where he died
on January 14, 1753. Berkeley's "Principles of Human
Knowledge" is one of the most eminent of that sequence of
metaphysical systems which, beginning with Descartes,
constitutes what is known as modern philosophy.

_I.--THE ANALYSIS OF PERCEPTION_

It is evident to anyone who takes a survey of the objects of human
knowledge that they are either ideas actually imprinted on the senses,
or else such as are perceived by attending to the passions and
operations of the mind; or, lastly, ideas formed by help of memory and
imagination, either compounding, dividing, or representing those
originally perceived in the aforesaid ways. By sight, touch, and other
senses, I receive various sensations; and any group of sensations,
frequently accompanying one another, come to be known as one thing. Thus
a certain colour, taste, smell, figure, and consistence, having been
observed to go together, are accounted one distinct thing--for instance,
an apple.

But, besides this endless variety of objects of knowledge, there is also
the "mind," "spirit," "soul," or "myself," which perceives them. Neither
our thoughts or imaginatio