Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous in Opposition to Sceptics and Atheists

Written to make his radical philosophy more inviting, Berkeley casts his case as a lively conversation between Hylas, who trusts in material substance, and Philonous, who patiently takes that belief apart. Step by step Philonous shows that colors, sounds, heat, and shape exist only as they are perceived, until Hylas is driven to admit that matter apart from mind is an empty notion. The dialogue form lets Berkeley meet objections as they arise and lends the argument real warmth and momentum. Long used to introduce students to idealism, it is both a companion to his Principles and one of the most elegant philosophical conversations ever written. Free to download as a PDF or EPUB.