The Problem of the Exact Sciences

Abstract

In these first chapters (I–IV) we shall be concerned for the most part with Berkeley’s critique of the exact sciences, and his reflections on human knowledge as they arose out of his reading of Locke and Newton. In fact, the young Berkeley had meditated a great deal about other philosophical issues, and had read other authors, notably Malebranche and Bayle (oblique references to these French philosophers abound in the Philosophical Commentaries, the Principles and the Three Dialogues), Nevertheless, it was on Newton’s natural philosophy that Berkeley concentrated his attention in the early published works; and to attain a conspectus of Berkeley’s endeavours it is appropriate to confine attention at first to this element. Later, we shall look at Berkeley’s work in a more ample setting.