Esse est percipi is a Latin philosophical principle that translates to “to be is to be perceived.” This idea is closely associated with the Irish philosopher George Berkeley, who put forth this notion in the early 18th century.
In essence, Berkeley argued that the existence of objects is dependent on their being perceived by a conscious observer. According to him, reality is fundamentally a collection of perceptions, and things do not exist independently of those perceptions. So, for example, when we say something exists, we imply that it is being perceived by someone or something.
This concept challenges the traditional notion of stability and permanence in the material world, suggesting instead that what we consider reality is not an objective, lasting entity but rather a series of experiences in the minds of individuals.
Berkeley’s views encourage us to reconsider our understanding of existence and reality, emphasizing the importance of perception in shaping our experiences of the world around us.