During the 18^th century there was a philosopher and bishop called George Berkeley. He argued that everything that exists must be perceived by some person. He claimed that if there is a tree that falls and there is no one there to see, hear, taste, touch, or feel it then it has not fallen – and the tree has never existed at all!

“God in the Quad” by Ronald Knox

There was a young man who said “God

Must find it exceedingly odd

To think that the tree

Should continue to be

When there’s no one about in the quad.”

 Reply:

“Dear Sir: Your astonishment’s odd;

I am always about in the quad.

And that’s why the tree

Will continue to be Since observed by, Yours faithfully, God.”

Ronald Knox wrote this limerick in response to Berkeley’s view. If there are no persons to view something happen, then how do things change without us seeing? What does his poem say about God’s role in Berkeley’s conception of the world?