Empiricism Quote by George Berkeley
““It is indeed an opinion strangely prevailing amongst men, that houses, mountains, rivers, and in a word all sensible objects have an existence natural or real, distinct from their being perceived by the understanding. But with how great an assurance and acquiescence soever this principle may be entertained in the world; yet whoever shall find in his heart to call it in question, may, if I mistake not, perceive it to involve a manifest contradiction. For what are the forementioned objects but the things we perceive by sense, and what do we perceive besides our own ideas or sensations; and is it not plainly repugnant that any one of these or any combination of them should exist unperceived?' (Berkeley, 1710: 25)””
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Treatise: A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, 1710
Berkeley argues that material objects cannot exist independently of perception; their reality is contingent on being sensed or thought of.
In simple terms: Objects exist only when perceived.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about unseen reality.
Themes
philosophy
perception
reality
skepticism
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- Scientific research
- everyday observation
- artistic creation
- psychological introspection
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
Idealism
empiricism
ontological debate
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever trust something you cannot directly perceive?
A Different Perspective
If all is mind‑dependent, how do we account for consistent laws of nature?
![“[Christianity] neither enjoins the nastiness of the Cynic, nor the insensibility of the Stoic.” quote by George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fa/george-berkeley-8287_christianity_christianity-neither-enjoins-the-nastine_218341.jpg)
![“[Tar water] is of a nature so mild and benign and proportioned to the human constitution, as to warm without heating, to cheer but not inebriate.” quote by George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b4b/george-berkeley-8287_benign_tar-water-is-of-a-nature-so-mild-and-ben_299364.jpg)
![“The most ingenious men are now agreed, that [universities] are only nurseries of prejudice, corruption, barbarism, and pedantry.” quote by George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/445/george-berkeley-8287_barbarism_the-most-ingenious-men-are-now-agreed-th_494914.jpg)
