ABSTRACT
In his study of motion ‘De motu’ written in 1721, Bishop George Berkeley dismisses the notions of absolute space and time as being without meaning. Berkeley believes that only sense experience may underwrite meaning; and, since space and time have no foundation in our sense experience, we have no reason to accept them as meaningful words. This line of argument is one pursued nearly two centuries later by Ernst Mach and by others of a positivist persuasion. However, Mach adds his own unique touch to the argument—combining the empiricism of Berkeley with a deep respect for simplicity in science. 1
