From Hypatia to Serena: John Toland's Women

Ian Leask

The Irish Philosophy in the Age of Berkeley conference will take place in the Trinity Long Room Hub Neill Lecture Theatre on 5 and 6 April, 2019.

George Berkeley’s Treatise concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710) and Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous(1713) are standard texts in the philosophy curricula of most European and American universities. No other Irish philosopher, and no other work of Berkeley’s, has achieved this ‘canonical’ status. However, there was a vibrant philosophical scene in Ireland in Berkeley’s lifetime, to which Berkeley was far from the only contributor. Studying this broader Irish philosophical discussion will improve our understanding of Berkeley and also of early modern philosophy more generally.

The Irish Philosophy in the Age of Berkeley conference will include general exploration of the intellectual culture of early modern Ireland as well as examination of specific thinkers with significant connections to Ireland active during Berkeley’s lifetime (1685–1753), including Robert Boyle (1627–1691); Edward Synge (1659–1741); John Toland (1670–1722); Peter Browne (d. 1735); Henry Maul (1676-1758); Mary Barber (c. 1685-1755); Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746); Constantia Grierson (1704-1732); Laetitia Pilkington (c. 1709-1750); and John Austin (1717-1784).

The papers will address:

• The Irish context of Berkeley’s philosophy.
• The philosophical work of other Irish thinkers active during Berkeley’s lifetime.
• The reception within Ireland of other philosophical figures, ideas, and movements.
• The reception of Irish philosophy outside Ireland.

Papers presented at the conference will be published as part of the Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements series, Cambridge University Press.

Participants and attendees may also be interested in attending Berkeleian Minds: Will and Understanding, to be held at the University of York on 2 and 3 April.

Support for this conference is provided by the Royal Institute of Philosophy and the Mind Association, in association with the Trinity Long Room Hub Making Ireland Research Theme and the Department of Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin.