Born in Ireland, Berkeley was a philosopher and Anglican bishop. He is one of the key figures in the history of idealism, which asserts that reality is fundamentally mental and that the physical world exists only in our minds. Berkeley was also involved in various political and educational efforts, particularly his attempts to establish a college in Bermuda.

Berkeley argued that reality consists only of minds and their ideas, meaning that things exist only when they are perceived. He challenged the idea of material substance, focusing on the relationship between perception and existence.

A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge: Berkeley argues that material objects only exist when perceived, emphasizing the role of the mind in shaping reality. Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous: A series of philosophical dialogues where Berkeley explains his immaterialist philosophy.

Berkeley was influenced by empiricists like John Locke, though he rejected Locke’s materialism. He was also inspired by earlier idealist thinkers like Plato, who emphasized the importance of the mind in shaping reality.

Berkeley’s ideas on idealism influenced later philosophers, including David Hume and Immanuel Kant, who further developed concepts of perception and reality. His work also shaped modern discussions in metaphysics and the philosophy of mind.

Berkeley’s rejection of the existence of a material world was highly controversial, with many critics arguing that his ideas were too radical and impractical. He was often misunderstood, with critics claiming that his theory implied the non-existence of the external world, which Berkeley himself denied.

One of Berkeley’s most famous critics was Samuel Johnson, who, in response to Berkeley’s immaterialism, kicked a stone and proclaimed, 'I refute it thus!' David Hume also critiqued Berkeley's ideas, although he drew on them in his own philosophy of skepticism.

Berkeley’s contributions to philosophy, particularly his theory of idealism, have had a lasting impact on metaphysics and epistemology. His arguments about perception and reality continue to be studied and debated in philosophy classrooms around the world.