An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision

An Essay Towards a New Theory
of Vision

The Project Gutenberg Etext of An Essay Towards a New Theory of
Vision
by George Berkeley #1 in our series by George Berkeley
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Title: An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision
Author: George Berkeley
Release Date: December, 2003 [Etext #4722] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 7,
2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision by George Berkeley
(1685-1753)

CONTENTS
Sect. 1 Design 2 Distance of itself invisible 3 Remote distance
perceived rather by experience than by sense 4 Near distance thought to
be perceived by the ANGLE of the OPTIC AXES 5 Difference
between this and the former manner of perceiving distance 6 Also by
diverging rays 7 This depends not on experience 8 These the common

accounts, but not satisfactory 9 Some IDEAS perceived by the
mediation of others 10 No IDEA which is not itself perceived, can be
the means of perceiving another 11 Distance perceived by means of
some other IDEA 12 Those lines and angles mentioned in optics, are
not themselves perceived 13 Hence the mind does not perceive distance
by lines and angles 14 Also because they have no real existence 15 And
because they are insufficient to explain the phenomena 16 The IDEAS
that suggest distance are, 1st, the sensation arising from the turn of the
eyes 17 Betwixt which and distance there is no necessary connection 18
Scarce room for mistake in this matter 19 No regard had to the angle of
the OPTIC AXES 20 Judgment of distance made with both eyes, the
result of EXPERIENCE 21 2ndly, Confusedness of appearance 22 This
the occasion of those judgments attributed to diverging rays 23
Objection answered 24 What deceives the writers of optics in this
matter 25 The cause why one IDEA may suggest another 26 This
applied to confusion and distance 27 Thirrdly, the straining of the eye
28 The occasions which suggest distance have in their own nature no
relation to it 29 A difficult case proposed by Dr. Barrow as repugnant
to all the known theories 30 This case contradicts a received principle
in catoptrics 31 It is shown to agree with the principles we have laid
down 32 This phenomenon illustrated 33 It confirms the truth of the
principle whereby it is explained 34 Vision when distinct, and when
confused 35 The different effects of parallel diverging and converging
rays 36 How converging and diverging rays come to suggest the same
distance 37 A person extreme purblind would judge aright in the
forementioned case 38 Lines and angles, why useful in optics 39 The
not understanding this, a cause of