Berkeley: Philosophy in an Hour

By: Paul Strathern

Narrated by: Jonthan Keeble

Length: 1 hr and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Philosophy for busy people. Listen to a succinct account of the philosophy of Berkeley in just one hour.

Berkeley’s philosophy denies the existence of matter. According to his work, there is no material world, only our own experience. So when you don’t see something, it isn’t there. Then how does the world persist? Because it is supported by the continuous perception of an all-seeing God. Berkeley’s ideas appear to take empiricism to a ludicrous extreme. But is this quite so absurd as it seems? We are frequently forced to abandon common sense and the obvious in order to progress beyond the immediate muddle of everyday existence towards what we consider to be the truths of science.

This audiobook is an expert account of Berkeley’s life and philosophical ideas – entertainingly written and above all easy listening. Also included are selections from Berkeley’s work, suggested further reading, and chronologies that place Berkeley in the context of the broader scheme of philosophy.

©2012 Paul Strathern (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them... I find them hard to stop reading" ( New York Times)

"Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise" ( Wall Street Journal)

"Each of these little books is witty and dramatic and creates a sense of time, place, and character... I cannot think of a better way to introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization" ( Boston Globe)

"A godsend in this era of the short attention span" ( New York Times)