One of the greatest British philosophers Bishop Berkeley (1685-1753) was the founder of the influential doctrine of Immaterialism
- the belief that there is no reality outside the mind & that the existence of material objects depends upon their being perceived The Principles of Human Knowledge eloquently outlines this philosophical concept & argues forcefully that the world consists purely of finite minds & ideas & of an infinite spirit God A denial of all non-spiritual reality Berkeley's theory was at first heavily criticized by his contemporaries who feared its ideas would lead to scepticism & atheism The Three Dialogues provide a powerful response to these fears