berkeleyism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal Academic; Historical/Literary
Quick answer
What does “berkeleyism” mean?
A system of philosophical ideas derived from the work of Bishop George Berkeley, particularly the doctrine that material objects exist only as perceptions in minds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A system of philosophical ideas derived from the work of Bishop George Berkeley, particularly the doctrine that material objects exist only as perceptions in minds.
More broadly, the term can refer to any idealist or immaterialist philosophical stance, or, informally, to an attitude or approach perceived as excessively theoretical or detached from practical reality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare and academic in both varieties. The philosophical reference is primary. The figurative, informal sense is marginally more attested in American academic slang.
Connotations
In academic contexts, neutral-to-respectful. In informal use, potentially pejorative, implying impracticality.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. Almost exclusively encountered in specialized texts on philosophy, intellectual history, or as a literary allusion.
Grammar
How to Use “berkeleyism” in a Sentence
[Subject] espouses Berkeleyism.[Subject] is a critique of Berkeleyism.His argument veered into pure Berkeleyism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “berkeleyism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He seemed to Berkeleyise the entire physical world, reducing it to a play of sensations.
American English
- The novelist Berkeley-izes her protagonist's reality, making it dependent on his mental state.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- His Berkeleyan scepticism about matter was central to his thesis.
American English
- She took a Berkeleian stance in the debate on perception.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in philosophy, history of ideas, and literary criticism departments. The primary context.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would mark the speaker as highly educated or affected.
Technical
A technical term within its specific philosophical domain.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “berkeleyism”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “berkeleyism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “berkeleyism”
- Misspelling as 'Berkleyism'.
- Using it as a general synonym for any type of idealism without the specific immaterialist component.
- Pronouncing it like the city in California (/ˈbɜːrkli/) in an academic context, where the philosopher's name is /ˈbɑːkli/ (UK) or /ˈbɜːrkli/ (US).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are idealist, solipsism holds that only one's own mind is sure to exist. Berkeleyism, via God's perpetual perception, allows for a shared, objective reality of ideas.
Rarely. It might appear in literary or rhetorical contexts to label a viewpoint as naively or excessively subjective and impractical.
The most famous objection is Samuel Johnson's 'I refute it thus!' by kicking a stone, appealing to the common-sense resistance of material objects. Philosophers critique its reliance on God and the problem of accounting for the consistency of perception.
George Berkeley (1685-1753) was an Irish philosopher, bishop, and one of the three main British Empiricists (with Locke and Hume). He is best known for his immaterialist philosophy summarized as 'esse est percipi' (to be is to be perceived).
A system of philosophical ideas derived from the work of Bishop George Berkeley, particularly the doctrine that material objects exist only as perceptions in minds.
Berkeleyism is usually formal academic; historical/literary in register.
Berkeleyism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːkliɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːrkliˌɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Berkeley' (the philosopher) + '-ism' (a system of belief). 'Berkeley believed only minds and ideas are real, hence Berkeleyism.'
Conceptual Metaphor
THE WORLD IS AN IDEA (Philosophical core); BEING UNREALISTIC IS LIVING IN A MENTAL BUBBLE (Informal pejorative).
Practice
Quiz
What is the core tenet of Berkeleyism?